CUHK urges legal framework to recognize same-sex relationships after 70 percent wanted to get married

LGBTQ+ Hongkongers are calling for recognition of same-sex relationships, citing concerns such as difficulties in securing employment and the lack of legal recognition for same-sex partners in hospitals, according to research from the Chinese University.

The research surveyed 908 LGBQ+ respondents in Hong Kong. Among them, 455 were in a committed or legalized relationship with a same-sex partner, 70 percent of whom wanted to or very much wanted to get married with their same-sex partner.

“These findings show that marriage remains an important institution in the mind of LGBQ+ people in Hong Kong,” Suen Yiu-tung,  Associate Professor of the Gender Studies Programme at CUHK said while publishing the research results on Monday.

However, the research also revealed that Hong Kong LGBQ+ people are constantly stressed and fearful of being treated unfairly in public domains in Hong Kong, with a significant proportion of LGBQ+ respondents in same-sex relationships reported having experienced discrimination in public domains of life.

Nearly one-fifth said they had been denied the right to be together in health care settings such as visiting one another in the hospital in the previous year; one-third said they received poor service in restaurants or stores because of their same-sex relationship.

Another survey involving 146 parents with LGBQ+ children also found more than half of them were worried their children would not get married due to their sexual orientation. 

Seventy percent of the respondents expressed fears that their children would have no one to care for them when they are older.

“The findings strongly indicate there is a pressing need for Hong Kong to review and update its legal framework to recognize same-sex relationships—a call echoed by both LGBQ+ individuals and their parents and family members,” Suen added.

Also attending the media conference, a same-sex couple Alan and Hong, who got married in the United States in 2022, said the lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Hong Kong can pose challenges, such as they may not be able to share the insurance package and there may be disputes over inheritance rights.

(Stacy Shi)