Forbidden love
The gay community in Hong Kong is waging the same battle for the right to get married that is being waged in other cities. Here however the stakes may be considerably higher, as gay couples fight for the right for vital social services. Steven Chen reports.
When New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the same-sex marriage bill into law recently, there was a wave of excitement among America's alternative lifestyle communities. Gays and lesbians flocked to New York City to tie the knot.
Here in Hong Kong their counterparts stand in envy, as activists pushing for greater rights for gays face off against powerful opposition forces. Same-sex marriage appears a distant dream.
Opponents of same-sex marriages include religious groups, academics, members of the government and the general public who hold deeply conservative views rooted in the city's colonial years. Advocates for same-sex unions are marriage-minded lesbians and gays who see themselves as disadvantaged victims missing out on the benefits of marriage. The proponents of same-sex marriage are supported in their cause by human rights groups and some academics.
But the road to an ultimate resolution is rocky, with the biggest hurdle being that each side argues its case from a different starting point. In the end it may all boil down to the question: What is marriage?
"Marriage", says Sam Winter, "is a type of social contract which performs many functions. It allows two individuals to make a lifelong commitment to each other, and more importantly, it is a declaration to society of their partnership and their love. It's also a way of protecting their mutual interests, including financial, and offers them certain benefits."
Depending on where the couple is living, these benefits may include tax breaks, the right to bequeath money and other assets to the other if one passes away and clear structures to determine access in the event of divorce, if there are any children involved.
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