Hong Kong does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions and only decriminalized homosexuality in 1991 — in contrast to Taiwan, where lawmakers last month became the first in Asia to legalize gay marriage. Despite growing public support for gay rights, campaigners have made little headway against opposition from Hong Kong’s successive pro-Beijing governments and religious conservatives. When the newlyweds returned to Hong Kong, Leung applied for his husband to be granted the same medical and dental benefits available to his married heterosexual colleagues, but was rebuffed. Five judges unanimously ruled that denying the couple spousal rights for a marriage in New Zealand breached Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination laws. “It is outrageous that LGBTI people in Hong Kong continue to have to go to court in order to force the authorities to treat their relationships as equal.”The ruling came after a British lesbian won the right for her partner to be granted a spousal visa in Hong Kong last year.

Source: Taipei Times June 06, 2019 15:56 UTC