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Same-sex couples in HK have strong marital intention, but are concerned about the lack of legal recognition of their relationship

In Hong Kong, there have been legal developments and societal debates about the legal recognition of same-sex relationship. Prof. SUEN Yiu Tung, Associate Professor of the Gender Studies Programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has published a number of research briefs that provide empirical evidence for these discussions.

Professor SUEN Yiu Tung told the media that ‘Our findings show that LGBQ+ people, like their non-LGBQ+ counterparts, chose to engage in committed relationship with their partner. 70% of the Hong Kong LGBQ+ respondents who were in a committed same-sex relationship wanted to or very much wanted to get married with their same-sex partner, showing that marriage remains an important institution in the mind of LGBQ+ people in Hong Kong. An overwhelming majority of all LGBQ+ respondents, and of LGBQ+ respondents in a same-sex relationship, considered same-sex marriage to be important/very important. However, the legal reality that same-sex relationship is not recognized in Hong Kong means that Hong Kong LGBQ+ people live under constant stress and anxiety that they will not be treated fairly in public domains in Hong Kong. More than half of them (54%) were worried that their relationship with their same-sex partner would negatively affect their chances of getting or keeping a job. 94% of them were worried that if something happened to one of them, the hospital won’t recognize them or their same-sex partner. A significant proportion of LGBQ+ respondents who were in same-sex relationships reported facing discrimination in public domains of life, including hospital visitation and receiving poor service in restaurants or stores. Parents of LGBQ+ children in Hong Kong surveyed share the same concern about the difficulties their children face due to their sexuality. Nearly two-thirds of the surveyed parents (70%) worried that no one would take care of their child when they get older because they are LGBQ+. More than half of the surveyed parents (54%) worried that their child would not get married because they are LGBQ+. A majority of them (62%) supported the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Hong Kong. These findings strongly indicate there is a pressing need for Hong Kong to review and update its legal framework to recognize same-sex relationship—a call echoed by both LGBQ+ individuals and their parents and family members.’

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Media Coverage:

    1. 明報: 七成LGBQ+受訪者想與同性伴侶結婚  中大學者促政府及早訂立替代法律框架 (Link)
    2. SCMP: 70% of Hongkongers in same-sex relationships want to get married: survey; Researchers urge government to take note of poll as deadline for devising official legal framework for same-sex partnerships nears (Link)
    3. RTHK: Marriage a goal for many same-sex couples in HK (Link)
    4. 星島日報: 中大調查:僅2.9%人與同性伴侶有法定關係 學者促加快落實同性權益法例工作 (Link)
    5. Yahoo News: 性小眾七成想結婚 逾一成海外結婚或民事結合 學者倡逼切承認同性伴侶關係:政府好難唔理 (Link)
    6. HK01: 50歲的她與同性愛人結婚 外孫仔多了位公公 七成LGBQ人士冀結婚 (Link)
    7. Hong Kong Free Press: 70% of people in committed same-sex relationships want to marry, Hong Kong survey finds (Link)
    8. The Standard: CUHK urges legal framework to recognize same-sex relationships after 70 percent wanted to get married (Link)
    9. 集誌社:同性婚姻|替代框架再姍姍來遲 擔心當局拖字訣 家長、子女為性小眾親屬發聲 (Link)
    10. Channal C: 中大發表性小眾研究 7成穩定關係者盼結婚 逾半憂關係影響工作(Link)
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