30年前港料至少14萬男同志
Mingpao 明報
Published and accessed July 21, 2017
【明報專訊】1980年代，本港男同性戀者發生性行為屬刑事罪行，最高可被判監禁，但具有同性戀的性傾向則不違法。在解密文件中，港英政府當時估計本港有至少14.5萬男同性戀者。
指警查男同志性交需費大量資源
1988年，行政局推出諮詢文件，就修改法律諮詢，包括考慮將行為合法化、減少刑責或維持現狀。當年行政局的機密檔案中，引用美國學者Alfred Charles Kinsey在1948年的研究報告推算，估計本港1980年代有約14.5萬至29萬男同性戀者，包括活躍及非活躍人士。文件進一步指出，男同性戀者秘密地進行性交難以舉證，需花費大量警方資源，亦完全忽視個人私隱。
翻查資料，1990年立法局通過男同性戀性交非刑事化的草案，並於1991年刊憲。
【冷門商Gay】社會愈開放 基吧愈難做？
Apple Daily 蘋果日報
Published March 11, accessed April 11, 2016
蘇汝卿
「同志界不免有些失落，感覺上是一個時代的終結。」
上月，開業廿五年的老牌基吧Propaganda（pp）結業，不少同志重返這個中環聖地，勾起的不只是情慾愛戀的回憶，更是對這些傳統基地走向夕陽的感嘆。一連四集，動新聞走訪新舊同志行業，了解商機之外，也透視性小眾在港生活的樂與愁。
當初怕入基吧 今天企街飲酒
pp的最後一夜，梁兆輝（Brian）擔任DJ，他覺得基吧紀錄他這一代人的成長：「回看這二十五年，才驚覺今天的我的確是自由了，但這不是必然的，要經過漫長的過程，才逐步放下枷鎖。」
八、九十年代，社會較保守，基吧往往藏於小巷地牢，或要「禁鐘」才可進入的樓上鋪。「我們作為同志，也是帶著fear入基吧， 因為不知道裏面是怎麼一回事。」梁兆輝（Brian）猶記得出師未捷的第一次:「一個人拿著地圖，終於找到尖沙咀的Wally Matt。站在門前，我是不敢進去。」在這些四周眼光互傳著渴望的場所，Brian 說他們都經歷過一些階段：由最初站立不安到嘗試搭訕、請對方喝一杯。「可能那晚是一個人回家，但我覺得當中的Thrill of the Hunt，是一個很有趣的藝術。」基吧是各階層，甚至櫃內同志「搵自己」和識人的重要平台。
今日，蘇杭街一帶基吧地舖，逢周末都有同志在街頭飲酒，「可以明目張膽，被人認出是同志而不會感到羞愧，是一個重要的里程。」近年，香港同志遊行屢創新高，現為大愛同盟總幹事的Brian慨嘆，平權運動剛啟步，這些傳統同志文化遺產卻留不住。
交友app取代蒲點
「要去談情論愛、甚至坊間所說的約炮，方式已大不同。」Brian說基吧死因有兩個：其中一個是交友app的出現，同志可隨時隨地找到附近的自己人，知道對方樣貌和身材。另外，社會開放，同志可以光顧一般酒吧，甚至有直吧會打正旗號搞同志夜，令基吧失去獨特性。
轉型為straight－friendly
全港同志夜場一直維持13間左右，但近十年，生意已大不如前。1999年開業，位於銅鑼灣的The Lab一晚三場，場場爆滿，更常有明星出沒。當年的蒲精Daniel說：「要在樓下等到三點，進來還是爆場。」今天Daniel已由客人變為 The Lab經理，他坦言全盛時期已過，現時主要靠周末生意：「科技的影響是有的，但要看那地方懂不懂轉變。」
當年該店守護森嚴，規定三個同志才可以帶一個女的進場，如今則歡迎女人和直人。除了不斷更新勁歌熱舞的器材外，近年他們留意到受韓風影響，後生一輩愛化妝，於是大搞歌唱、跳舞、化妝比賽，還跟同志組織合作，希望吸引不同的年輕人。
跟不少基吧一樣，The Lab老闆本身是同志，開店不為賺錢，才能撐這麼多年。Daniel說：「老闆只是希望，有一個地方給同志，是一個家的感覺。」資深市場顧問Ben指出，基吧已經變成聯誼場所，而且仍然有生存空間:「大趨勢是共融、共存的，一個地方要以性小眾為本，而同時對直人友善。」
下一集，動新聞來到香港第一間女同志酒吧，看老闆娘為何說生意比基吧更難做。
From Beavis to Beatrice: Hong Kong woman says sex-change surgery helped her overcome gender identity struggle
South China Morning Post 南華早報
Published December 10, 2015, accessed April 14, 2016
Elizabeth Cheung elizabeth.cheung@scmp.com
The 35-year-old’s operation from male to female ushered in new confidence
For Beatrice Wong Suet-ling, sex-reassignment surgery brought much more than physical change – it unleashed a joy and confidence which she had not experienced in decades.
She underwent the decisive moment in August this year when she medically changed her sex from male to female through surgery.
The struggle across the gender line started for Wong, 35, when she was a teenager who was fond of wearing dresses.
“I didn’t know anything about being transgender, just about drag queens and being abnormality,” recalled Wong. “I did not think of changing my sex that time,” said Wong.
She thought her fondness for female clothes was a “bad hobby” that needed to be “cured”.
Wong – known as Beavis Wong Pak-fai before the change – dated women and even had sexual relations with them to try to rid her desire of being a woman.
“But the more time I spent with women, the more I wanted to wear dresses,” she said. “My being a boyfriend just made me feel uncomfortable.”
It was until three years ago that Wong started to receive psychiatric assessment to prepare for her change. The process began after she heard of similar experiences from transgendered individuals.
Now inhabiting a body she truly likes, Wong said she felt more confident in pursuing her interests.
Employed in the IT sector, she shared her story with others by producing a short film about her transformation and submitted it to a short film contest.
Her confidence grew thanks to the support of those around her. Wong’s family did not particularly oppose or support her decision, but they did visit her in the hospital after the surgery in August. She said her friends also accepted who she was and continued to give their full support.
“I used to feel blue and depressed,” she said. “After the operation I felt excited and was able to restart of my life again.”
怕出櫃壓力爆煲 音樂博士男廁偷拍
Mingpao 明報
Published and accessed July 12, 2015
【明報專訊】音樂博士自中學時期發現自己是同性戀者，但礙於家人為宣教士及牧師，在宗教衝突下一直不敢向家人「告白」而過度抑壓，加上擔任色士風樂手的父親早前患上腦退化症，曾每10分鐘致電給他，令他患上抑鬱，壓力百上加斤，因一時「想做刺激無人知的事」，遂用手機偷拍男士如廁。他昨承認一項不誠實取用電腦罪。
周一嶽：不可再迴避同志平權議題須理性討論
RTHK 香港電台
Published July 3, accessed July 6, 2015
平等機會委員會主席周一嶽出席一個電台節目後表示，平機會去年6月委託中大性別研究中心，針對香港性小眾面對的歧視問題進行調查，預料今月會提交報告，平機會將於9月開會通過後便會發表。
他說，西方國家於同志平權上有進展，香港與西方國家交流相當多，會帶動本港潮流看法。他指出，香港不可再迴避這個問題，認為社會上要有理性討論，反對同性戀的機構亦要提出有邏輯基礎的理論，才能積極及有建設性地討論問題。
同志團體指本港應討論婚姻權是否涵蓋同性戀者
RTHK 香港電台
Published and accessed July 1, 2015
民陣下午發起遊行，不少團體沿途擺設街站，包括同志團體，爭取同志平權。
女同學社幹事鍾智灝說，美國最高法院早前通過全國同性婚姻合法化，香港亦應討論婚姻權是否涵蓋同志。
鍾智灝又認為，政改被否決後，政制及內地事務局應就性傾向歧視立法。他指出，部分同志在工作環境及學校受到歧視，政府應立法保障他們
同志團體9月活動重點爭平權
Mingpao 明報
Published and accessed June 29, 2015
另有關注組發起「反對美同性『婚姻』」聯署
【明報專訊】美國最高法院日前通過同性婚姻全國合法化，香港本地的同志團體無不為此感到鼓舞。近年爭取同志平權團體都會參與七一遊行，今年會否「食住個勢」趁機在後日的七一遊行中爭取同志平權？「大愛同盟」發起人何秀蘭說，暫時未有計劃特意在遊行中發放同志平權或同性婚姻合法化的信息，但計劃重頭戲放在9月舉行支持平等大愛的「一點粉紅（Pink Dot）」活動。
將委港大做年度平權調查
身兼工黨立法會議員的何秀蘭稱，計劃在本年度立法會會期完結後，委託港大民意研究計劃做年度關於同志平權的民意調查。她說，今次民調冀可在抽樣方面有改變，由昔日只是打固網電話取樣本，加入手提電話樣本。她指固網電話抽樣令到結果偏向保守和年長人士的意見，加入手提電話取樣可分析年輕人取態。
美國的同性婚姻合法化令本港支持同志平權的團體感到興奮，但同時亦令香港反對同性婚姻的組織擔心，「性傾向條例家校關注組」發起「反對美國同性『婚姻』」聯署行動，認為由法庭決定一個對人權公義有嚴重影響的法例，在程序上是不恰當和不公義，應該根據立法程序進行，而不是由法庭裁決。
關注組批法庭決定人權公義不當
關注組亦質疑同性「婚姻」制度違反人權，因為確立同性「婚姻」是變相認同同性戀，是侵害了不認同同性戀的家長，對其子女的教育自由。關注組呼籲美國有關人士通過現行機制上訴，推翻是次判決。
關注組召集人黃偉明稱，現時會先做聯署行動，至於有否後續行動要視乎聯署人數，若聯署人數多，或會向美國領事館遞交聯署請願。
平機會前主席、行政會議召集人林煥光昨日說，希望港人可以放開心懷，討論同性婚姻立法問題，但他認為同性婚姻立法需時間醞釀，要待社會有大共識才較易推行。
Hong Kong must address gay marriage issue, say advocates – but opponents push back
South China Morning Post 南華早報
Published and accessed June 29, 2015 1000
Danny Lee danny.lee@scmp.com
As the impact of the US Supreme Court’s ruling legalising same-sex marriage continues to reverberate around the world, a leading rights group in Hong Kong says now is the time to push for new legal protections.
But opponents of gay marriage say they have received a surge in support following comments from the chairperson of the city’s equality watchdog, who said it was time Hong Kong addressed the issue.
Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, the chairperson of the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), on Saturday said Hongkongers must not bury the debate on same-sex marriage. “To Hong Kong, same-sex marriage is an inescapable issue,” he said.
But members of sexual minorities advocacy group Rainbow Action said they wanted to see a beefed-up anti-discrimination law in Hong Kong before the city took on same-sex marriage.
Tommy Chen, of Rainbow Action, said it was impossible to separate the question of equal marriage rights from that of equal protection. Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination laws do not specifically protect lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people.
“If there is still discrimination at work, how can I get married? How can I bring it to court? It really makes no sense to have same-sex marriage until we have protection from discrimination,” Chen said.
Those who oppose the expansion of legal protection for gay people, however, say they represent a significant proportion of Hongkongers.
Roger Wong Wai-ming, convener of one such group called the Family School Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ordinance Concern Group, said he had received more than 100 calls from concerned parents after a Christian group, the Society of Truth and Light, shared Chow’s comments on Facebook on Saturday.
He said the number of calls from parents showed the level of opposition.
“Parents are concerned that same-sex marriage will come to Hong Kong because the United States has influence on our culture indirectly,” Wong said. He has previously said the government and the EOC should not deprive people of their “freedom of speech” by passing laws to protect gay rights.
Chen said the flurry of attention anti-gay-marriage groups had stirred up had a beneficial effect for Rainbow Action and its allies: lawyers are now offering to work pro-bono to test the legality of same-sex marriage in Hong Kong’s courts.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as City split over gay marriage debate
Same-sex marriage ‘an inescapable issue’ in Hong Kong, says head of equality watchdog
South China Morning Post 南華早報
Published and accessed June 28, 2015
Stuart Lau stuart.lau@scmp.com
Head of equality watchdog seeks to study US laws, but many conservatives oppose decision
The head of Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has called for discussion on same-sex marriage after the US Supreme Court made it legal across the US in a historic decision on Friday that is resonating around the world.
But Dr York Chow Yat-ngok’s plea is a far cry from reality in a city where even a piece of legislation that seeks to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation is at the discussion stage – and where marriage applies strictly to heterosexual couples.
“To Hong Kong, same-sex marriage is an inescapable issue,” Chow, chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said yesterday. “There is a need for more discussion.”
He noted the commission had no power to handle marriage laws, but it could facilitate social inclusiveness and mutual respect, and would be happy to take part in debate relating to same-sex marriage.
In a 2013 interview with the South China Morning Post, Chow was already advocating civil union – a legal recognition of the partnership between two people of the same sex, granting them the same rights in law as marriage in matters such as welfare and inheritance.
In a society where social activism meets conservatism, Hongkongers have given varied responses to the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision.
A conservative Christian group, the Society for Truth and Light, was unflinching in its opposition, posting Chow’s reaction on its Facebook page along with the comment: “How globalised.”
The group asked how far Hong Kong was from the US system, in which “a vote among nine judges decided the institution of marriage of 300 million people”.
Pro-gay rights users responded by saying: “It must be a day of humiliation for [the society].”
Some suggested the group – long regarded by social activists as a stumbling block – boycott American products.
On Friday, the highest court in the United States said in a 5-4 ruling that the constitution required all 50 states to carry out and recognise marriage between people of the same sex.
“No longer may this liberty be denied,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority. “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family.”
US President Barack Obama hailed the ruling as a “victory for America”, saying: “When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free.”
Equality is also enshrined in Hong Kong’s Basic Law.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Gay marriage in Hong Kong ‘needs to be discussed’
同性婚姻在港只屬朋友關係
Apple Daily 蘋果日報
Published and accessed June 28, 2015
張婷婷
【本報訊】已「出櫃」的立法會議員陳志全「慢必」（圖）表示，美國最高法院判決是一個里程碑，對全球有很大影響。慢必已向立法會提出，就同性伴侶的民事結合的安排作出動議辯論，「𠵱家如果同性伴侶死咗，另一個連攞番條屍都唔可以」。很多國家於正式實施同性婚姻法前，都先實行同性伴侶的民事結合。
慢必：本港應作司法覆核
他又指，希望有團體進行有關同性婚姻的民調，過去民調主要集中是否支持反歧視法，未知美國今次判決，會否影響市民對同性婚姻的看法。他指值得考慮以人權法向法院申請，司法覆核本港應否有同性婚姻。
之前曾代表W挑戰港府，爭取變性人婚姻權的律師韋智達，正代表一對在英國民事結合的英籍女同性伴侶在港提出司法覆核，要求入境處向跟隨來港工作伴侶入境的女同志發出受養人簽證，容許她在港逗留和工作。
韋智達指香港不承認外國的同性結合證明文件，不單他的當事人QT和SS這類外籍人士會遇到困難，就算本地同性伴侶如果在承認同性婚姻的國家正式註冊後，一旦返港，他們在法律上亦只是朋友關係，不被視作配偶。在房屋政策、遺產承繼、夫婦免稅額、勞工福利，以至簽署手術同意文件等，一概不會有配偶權利。一旦他們感情破裂，配偶亦不能得到任何離婚保障。
QT案涉及港府對外地同性結合文件的認同，一旦勝訴，不單本港的外籍同性伴侶面的入境問題得以解決，在外地註冊的本地同性伴侶亦可享有異性伴侶同樣的權利。案件於上月審結，正等候法院頒佈判決。他和當事人認為《基本法》保障人人平等權利，港府應認同他們結婚的權利。
Documenting HK's GLBT happenings
GLBT news in Hong Kong 