Letters | Hong Kong will get there on LGBT rights, give it time

May 17 was the day Taiwan legalised gay marriage after a long battle by same-sex rights supporters who crossed many hurdles to achieve this landmark victory. The battle has been all about the fact that people are born equal and should enjoy equal rights and social dignity.

Compared to many Asian countries, Taiwan generally harbours an open attitude to LGBT issues. Their community activities have also been on the rise, so that the rest of society is not predisposed to discriminate against them. Most Taiwanese who were opposed to same-sex marriage were actually not against their right to have a family, but just wanted laws to be built on progressively, with additions and amendments if and when necessary.

Looking at all the smiling faces of the Taiwanese LGBT community and their supporters after they received news of the same-sex marriage law being passed, were their counterparts in Hong Kong longing for their turn?

A University of Hong Kong survey in 2018 found that half the respondents had a positive attitude towards the LGBT community and supported their right to marry, and nearly 80 per cent supported protection of their rights related to health and finances. Overall, the support has grown by 12 per cent over the past four years. This is a good sign, and this sentiment is growing. That said, more needs to be done to make the public aware of LGBT issues and discrimination, so that we can hope to wipe out resentful attitudes caused by ignorance. Education, indeed, will have a good part to play.