TL;DR
- Hong Kong’s legislature vetoed a bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples.
- Lesbian newlyweds Jaedyn Yu and Gloria Tsang call it a blow to human rights.
- The couple wed via Zoom with a U.S. officiant, celebrating in Bali.
- They argue the city’s stance hurts its reputation as a global hub.
- Their openness aims to push for a more inclusive society in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Says No to Gay Rights
Hong Kong just sent a chilling reminder of where it stands on equality — and it’s not with the rainbow. Last week, the city’s legislature shot down a bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples. For Jaedyn Yu and Gloria Tsang, newlyweds who’ve fought for visibility, the rejection felt like both a personal sting and a public slap in the face.
The two women, Yu, a 35-year-old drum school owner, and Tsang, a 33-year-old speech therapist, tied the knot this past May in Bali with their friends and family cheering them on. Since Hong Kong doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage, they logged on to Zoom, with a Utah-based officiant making their union official. The celebration was real, but the legal protections remain a fantasy.
“I think Hong Kong prides itself on being an international city and if we look around the world in terms of what international cities have, I don’t think we are up to par,” Yu said. Their words cut deep because, in a city that flaunts skyscrapers and markets itself as a global hub, it’s shocking how basic equality is still stuck in the dark ages.
A Veto That Sends a Message
The veto wasn’t a surprise — pro-Beijing lawmakers lined up against the bill, just as they have against other rights-based initiatives since the National Security Law muzzled dissent. Still, for LGBTQ couples, the rejection of even “limited rights” showed just how unwilling Hong Kong’s leadership is to move toward fairness.
“This doesn’t affect just the LGBT community … people with the values of equality, they would hesitate to come to Hong Kong because they might have kids of different sexual orientation,” Tsang said. She’s right. At a time when cities across Asia are opening doors — Taiwan recognizes same-sex marriage, Nepal is inching forward — Hong Kong slammed its shut. That’s not just regressive; it’s bad for business.
For a financial hub obsessed with global competitiveness, alienating progressive talent could be the worst kind of self-sabotage. Multinational firms and younger professionals don’t want to live in a place where their rights or their kids’ rights are treated like bargaining chips.
Love as Resistance
Still, Yu and Tsang aren’t backing down. By living openly and proudly, they’re staking their claim in a society where visibility can spark change. “It is a formal relationship … I just wish that more people would be less scared of it and then hopefully society would be more accepting,” Yu said.
For Hong Kong’s LGBTQ community, their marriage isn’t just about love — it’s a form of resistance. Every public handhold, every photo, every quote chips away at the fear and stigma that lawmakers are so desperate to preserve.
This veto leaves LGBTQ Hongkongers with the same old story: invisible in the eyes of the law, forced to rely on foreign recognition for basic dignity. It’s more than a policy failure — it’s a signal that the government doesn’t care about equality, even as its citizens demand it.
But for every bill vetoed, there are couples like Yu and Tsang turning rejection into resilience. Their message is clear: the city may legislate against them, but their love and visibility will outlast the politics. Hong Kong might not be ready for equality, but its people are.