Hong Kong Hosts First Official Gay Pride Parade
Hong Kong had its first official Gay Pride parade on Saturday.
"People emerged from shops and restaurants to witness the historic event. While some spectators cheered in support, most looked confused and bewildered. 'I never thought I would see this in Hong Kong,' said Kevin Li, a salesman who nevertheless believes the younger generation is less homophobic than the older one. 'Our society has different values than the West regarding sex because we are more traditional and more Chinese.'...Hong Kong lacks any non-discriminatory ordinance, and many locals still regard homosexuality with unease. Eric Herrera, a member of a white-collar gay-rights group called Fruits in Suits, which helped organize the parade, said, 'I have no problem walking down the streets arm in arm with my partner of 21 years, but it makes many people very uncomfortable.'"
Two videos of the event, including some go-go boys dancing to Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff", AFTER THE JUMP...
Fridae reports: "At last it has happened. Hong Kong's first gay pride parade processed through the crowded streets of Hong Kong Island on the afternoon of Saturday 13 December. And it was a huge success. Some 1,200 men and women, young and old, mostly gay but with some straight friends too, marched for just under two hours from the assembly point outside the Causeway Bay MTR entrance in Great George Street, one of the most congested places on the face of the planet, straight along the major East-West thoroughfare of Hennessy Road to its final destination in the public Southern Playground near Wanchai’s station."
Amazing! Happy New Year!
Posted by: zeke star | Dec 15, 2008 9:17:45 AM
Great! Because nothing says "Gay Pride" quite so clearly as shirtless men wearing police caps while dry humping what appear to be rubber batons to a twenty-five year old disco anthem performed by a flip-flopping homophobe.
Posted by: rudy | Dec 15, 2008 10:51:58 AM
Considering this is the Peoples Republic of China we're talking about, I think it is a pretty big deal that it went off without any police crackdown.
I suppose that means the Chinese can say they're slightly less repressive than, say, Putin's Russia. I know it is not much. But still...
Posted by: John in CA | Dec 15, 2008 12:47:05 PM
This makes me incredibly happy and proud for my hometown. I know my relatives there would have gone out to support it!
PS...Hong Kong is different from the PRC
Posted by: Peter | Dec 15, 2008 1:07:28 PM
Peter,
My comment wasn't meant as a criticism. In fact, I think changes in attitudes towards sexual orientation within the Hong Kong SAR can have a very positive effect on the rest of China. Influence is a two-way street.
And we can dispute whether HK is culturally distinct from the rest of China because of 155 years of British rule. Or whether it is a "colony" of the PRC rather than a "province." I happen to believe that it is. However, what's not in dispute is that the PRC does exercise sovereignty over the territory. Just as Corsica is "part of" France and Sicily is "part of" Italy, Hong Kong is "part of" China.
It isn't just on paper either. There has been some tangible changes on the ground too.
All public offices now fly the flag of the PRC. A pro-Beijing "electoral college" selects the Chief Executive, the Legislative Council is only partially elected, and the Standing Committee of National Peoples' Congress can veto HK specific legislation (with regards to national security, defense, and foreign relations).
Secondary education has moved away from the English model of five years secondary schooling plus two years of university matriculation to the Chinese model of three years of junior secondary plus another three years of senior secondary. There's a garrison of 5,000 Peoples Liberation Army troops in Central HK. The two main broadcast television networks (ATV and TVB) have become increasingly pro-Beijing entities.
But as I've said, influence is a two-way street. And the presence of a more "liberal" Hong Kong within China has also led to changes on the Mainland as well. Perhaps they're more subtle. But they're there for those who care to notice.
Posted by: John in CA | Dec 15, 2008 3:56:01 PM
That's awesome. Was just in Hong Kong and can't imagine it running through Causeway Bay. Would have been more eye-opening had it been in Kowloon.
Posted by: Stuart | Dec 15, 2008 6:16:59 PM
I'm proud of Hong Kong for coming this far.
Just a little note: it's actually Southorn Playground, not Southern.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southorn_Playground
Posted by: David | Dec 15, 2008 11:18:14 PM
Studied in Hong Kong for a year this past academic year. Loved it. Was upset I missed this. I ran the Hong Kong marathon with a rainbow bandana and everyone wanted to steal it from me they loved it so much! I'm pretty sure they had no idea that it was for being gay...
Posted by: Kyle | Dec 15, 2008 11:35:31 PM