QUARTERLY
PINK PAPER 粉紅 報 季刊
JUNE – AUGUST 2020
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4 NEWS BRIEFS The latest in LGBTQ+ news
5 OFFICER SPOTLIGHT
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The Movers and Shakers of Pink Alliance
6 WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED
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Coping in a time of stress
7 GLOBAL PRIDE Exist. Persist. Resist. Pride goes virtual worldwide
8 BLM The #blacklivesmatter Movement
9 PRIDE AND ACTIVISM Truth about Pride and Remembering activist Larry Kramer
P10 10 PINK ALLIANCE ADVOCACY WORK The latest in Pink Alliance happenings
12 LGBT+ EQUALITY Angus Leung and Scott Adams one year later
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14 TAIWAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY One year after same-sex marriage was made legal
15 LOCAL OUTDOOR FUN Activities to enjoy summer in Hong Kong
16 STAYCATION DESTINATIONS
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Travel expert Graham Elsom suggestions on wonderful staycations ideas 18 FinS RETROSPECTIVE
Part 3 of a series of retrospectives by former FinS Chief Dreamer Eric Herrera
19 MUSIC TO MY EARS
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Singer, songwriter and yoga teacher David Ho on his newest album Shades of Red.
20 DEAR AUNTY STEPH Debut of a new advice column by Drag star and Life Coach Stephanie SlackHouse
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21 LGBT+ NIGHTLIFE HONG KONG-STYLE Best places for a night out on the town
22 PINK ALLIANCE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS 2
On the cover: Young love at Choi Hung Estate, Hong Kong Thanks to: Scott Adams, David Ho, Angus Leung, 99Films, Pexels team (Jimmy Chan, Cottonbro, Polina Tankilevitch), Unsplash team (Oscar Barraza, Joseph Chan, Keenan Constance, Hugo D, Paulo Evangelista, Dan Gold, Jen Loong, John O’ Nolan, Israel Palacio, Neil Potter, Nadine Shaabana, Wesley Tingey) Cheers, Stan Editor, Pink Paper PINK ALLIANCE
https://pinkalliance.hk
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Taiwan’s GagaOOLala Expands Globally
Custody Battle in Legal Limbo for Lesbian Exes in China
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In April, Shanghai resident Zhang Peiyi filed suit against her former partner for custody of one of their two young children. The landmark case, to be heard in Zhejiang province, spotlights the precarious legal footing for same-sex couples seeking custody rulings in China. Since the breakdown of their relationship in 2019, Zhang has been unable to trace her partner, who left with both children. They were conceived via fertility a s s i s t a n c e i n t h e U S: Zhang’s partner provided both eggs, and each woman carried a pregnancy to term. Zhang is seeking custody of the child she gave birth to, and visitation rights for the other. Chinese law traditionally favours the birth parent, but Zhang’s status is complicated by her partner’s genetic relationship to the child she herself carried. The court must decide on custodial rights over that child, and also determine whether Zhang has parental rights to the child she helped to raise, but is not biologically related to. According to LGBT Rights Advocacy China, couples are increasingly choosing to start families, but with unclear legal recourse if the relationship breaks down. All previous custody battles between same-sex parents have been settled out of court.
15th May saw the worldwide launch of GagaOOLala, the Taiwan-based streaming platform dedicated to LGBTQ content. Distributed by Taipeibased Portico Media, the site has expanded across Southeast Asia since its launch in 2016, reaching Hong Kong and Macau in 2018. Its global expansion was timed to coincide with the first anniversary of samesex marriage legalization in Taiwan.
Portico, co-founders of the Taiwan International Queer Film Festival, conceived GagaOOLala as a permanent, year-round home for LGBTQ content. According to CEO Jay Lin, “the situation in many Asian countries is still dire... We needed to provide easier access to LGBTQ+ stories to let them know they are not alone.” T h e p l a t f o r m’ s f u l l catalogue runs to 1,000 titles, with English and Chinese subtitles available for all films, and a proud focus on Asian productions. Its original p r o g r a mmi n g includes episodic docuseries Queer Asia. Focusing on Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam, the series highlights what Lin calls “the steep cultural differences in A s i a wi t h i n t h e L GBT community.” Only China and North Korea remain untapped markets.
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Same-Sex Marriage is Now Legal in Costa Rica Costa Rica has become the first nation in Central America to legalise same-sex marriage. It was the culmination of a two-year wait. In 2018, the country’s constitutional court struck down an existing ban on same-sex unions, and set a deadline for parliamentary legislation formalising the ban’s demise. A last-minute effort by conservative legislators to delay the ruling failed, and the ban expired automatically at midnight on 26th May. Planned celebrations were hampered by pandemic restrictions, but a programme of live TV events culminated wi t h Da r i t z a A r a y a a n d Alexandra Quirós marrying at midnight, making history as the first same-sex couple to do so.
Legalisation was a key issue in the country’s 2018 parliamentary elections. Both President Carlos Alvarado and Enrique Sanchez, Costa Rica’s first openly gay congressman, hailed the moment as a triumph for progress. S a n c h e z p a i d tribute to those who fought for it: “they have helped build a society where there are no second-class families or second-rate people.”
Seoul LGBTQ Community Faced Backlash Over New Covid-19 Outbreak A coronavirus cluster linked to nightspots in Seoul has
prompted a national surge in homophobia, activists warn. Over 250 infections had been traced to a neighbourhood in Seoul’s Itaewon district, known as a discreet haven for LGBTQ club-goers. The central case is believed to be a 29-yearold man who visited three venues there on May 2nd.
While none of the clubs is an overtly gay venue, local media reports stressed the man’s sexual orientation. Homosexuality is not illegal in South Korea, but widespread discrimination prompts many to keep their orientation secret at work and at home. The country’s acclaimed programme of contacttracing and testing has run up against clubgoers’ fear of social stigmatisation. All the Itaewon venues collected contact details for customers, but more than 2,500 could not be reached via the details supplied. Authorities have enlisted CCTV footage, phone location data and credit card information to try to track them down. Facing calls to safeguard individual privacy, the Health Ministry pledged to update guidance on the release of personal information following an outbreak. It also announced plans to roll out anonymous COVID-19 testing nationwide. A coalition of civic groups has launched an advice hotline for people seeking anonymous tests, urging users to “form a new community in the midst of a crisis and support each other.”
The organization works diligently addressing the issues facing the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong but who are the people behind the Pink Alliance? You may have seen their faces but have don’t have an idea what their role is in the group. In this issue we are spotlighting a new member of the Operational Committee who is taking over the role left vacant by another member who had greatly contributed to the livelihood of the group.
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Amy Hanly Director of Operations & Director of FinS
ased on a casual text from a previous boss, Amy relocated to Hong Kong in 2014 and with the exception of a few random moments, has been in love with it ever since. An inability to say no to adventure and an activity, coupled with a deep rooted belief that she can do anything... and well (although experience would sometimes, strongly, indicate otherwise) means that very little time is spent at home. A tenacious problem solver, she’s all about positive evolution of her life, things & people around her. Amy is also unable to say no to wine. Joining Pink Alliance in mid-2019, Amy took on the role of Operations Director and most recently has taken over from Philip Howell-Williams as Director of FinS. With 2 roles within the Operating Committee, Amy shines with her “can do anything” attitude!
Farewell from Philip Howell-Williams Former Director of Fundraising & Director of FinS arrived in Hong Kong in January 2014 and wanted to get involved with the LGBT+ community to meet new people and settle in. The first event that I went to was FinS which was being run by Eric Herrera. After being delighted by the evening I asked about any opportunities to get involved. I was invited along to a meeting of Pink Alliance, where I met long standing members such as Nigel Collett and Reggie Ho. Nigel offered me the position of head of fundraising, which although daunting due to lack of experience, was an exciting opportunity. I first set out to help raise money for Pink Season. As corporate funding was not a strong suit at that point, I had to explore other options. I created a charity auction evening, which exceeded expectations with revenue generation. It was around this time that Eric announced that he was leaving Hong Kong, and that there was an opening available to run it. I jumped at this position with ideas about how to boost the attendance of the events and its reputation. I sourced new venues, removed the entry fee, collaborated with other groups to try out new experiences such as wine tasting, and built up a contact database to enhance the marketing. The following year the team running Pink Season also stepped aside. This again was an exciting prospect. I publicly advertised for new team members, we started by evaluating what had worked well in previous years, and how we could build on that with more corporate involvement. The first year we managed to gain $25,000 corporate sponsorship, to currently around $300,000, and a wonderful group of loyal, generous and supportive corporate sponsors. Over the six years of being involved in Pink Alliance, FinS, and Pink Season, I have been delighted to see them evolve, get stronger, have clear direction, and creating wonderful relationships with other charities and companies. I believe that I am leaving all of them in a very strong positive position. I have also have the pleasure of making many wonderful friends over the years of my involvement. Hong Kong itself has also developed massively over the years with wonderful legal wins like the W, QT and Angus Leung cases. With more and more companies accepting Diversity and Inclusion as an integral part of their ethos, I can only hope to see things improve more over the years ahead! I will miss you all dearly!
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Written by Dr. Gordon Wong
et's face it, the world is not the same again because of Covid-19. In the space of just a few months, countries around the world have to act swiftly and decisively to stop the spread of the virus. Our lives, and in many cases our livelihood as well, are disrupted like never before.
People are not allowed to go out of their home in countries where freedom is paramount. Restaurants, bars and many other businesses are forced to close. Schools, public services and just about everything you can think of are stopped. It is as if we are living in this surreal world, where everything is uncharted. There is a lot of anxiety, stress and fear towards this uncertainty dubbed the new normal. It is important to try our best to keep a healthy body and a healthy mind to combat this unprecedented change. Keeping contact with friends online, sticking to a routine at home, squeeze in some exercise between binging on Netflix will certainly help with solving some of the stresses. One positive thing that has come out of this unimaginable change to our lives is that we are reminded of our oneness. 6
Every person on Earth is experiencing this health and financial crisis as much as everyone else. This commonality unites us, and reminds us that we are all in fact interconnected on a deeper level. We all strive to achieve something in life. We all search for human connections. We all search for happiness. We are all different individuals, yet we all long for the same basic things. Next time you see another human being, remember that they are just like you, with the same basic needs. No matter how different the person is, or how much you disagree with the person, remember that we are all interconnected with each other. We all want love and happiness, and we can give each other love and happiness. Let's all help each other to get through this global pandemic, and make this world a better place.
Dr Gordon Wong spent his formative years in the UK, before returning to Hong Kong to study medicine. Apart from pharmacotherapy, he is keen on various psychotherapy methods. He has also a keen interest in LGBT mental health. He is a Specialist in Psychiatry in private practice.
GLOBAL PRIDE
EXIST. PERSIST. RESIST.
The
COVID-19
pandemic
has
had
a
devastating impact on Pride organisations worldwide with hundreds of marches and events cancelled or postponed. Global Pride 2020 was launched by national and international Pride networks which provides an opportunity for the LGBTI+ community around the world to come together and celebrate diversity and equality during these challenging times. Global Pride was launched on 1 April as a partnership between InterPride, the European Pride Organisers Association, and national Pride networks in several countries. It’s being led by a team of volunteers from every region of the world who are all committed to ensuring that everyone, everywhere, could take part in Pride in June. Organisers plan a 24-hour stream of content created by Prides globally, together with speeches from world leaders, activists and human rights defenders, reflecting the organisers’ statement that “Pride events might be cancelled but the spirit of Pride will live on”. Organisers estimated that there were more than 1,500 Prides globally, and all are invited to be a part of the event happening on 27/28 June. The show will be livestreamed on the Global Pride website, on YouTube and on other platforms yet to be announced. Crucially, all will be free to view. Organisers are expecting up to 300 million viewers and beyond. Confirmed to appear include a host of speakers and artists such as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadka, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica – which recently legalised same-sex marriage, Prime Ministers of Norway Erna Solberg and Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, and Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India. Many artists signed-up include Kesha, Laverne Cox, The Pussycat Dolls, Adam Lambert, Courtney Act, Pabllo Vittar, Ava Max, Deborah Cox, Kristine W, Dixie Chicks, Thelma Houston, Bright Light Bright Light, Steve Grand and Rachel Sage among others. All were approached by Pride organisations in their own country. Kristine Garina, President of European Pride Organisers Association, says: "Every Pride
organiser in the world can tell you a story of 7
someone whose life changed when they visited Pride, and so with so many Prides being cancelled or postponed, as organisers we felt we had a responsibility to come together and deliver Pride online. We’re tremendously excited for the potential for Global Pride to bring people together in the biggest Pride there has ever been." Albert Kruger, CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, says Global Pride will reach an online audience of millions across the planet, so it's vital our Asia-Pacific region steps up to be an essential part of it. "We want it to be truly global,
including a spectacular online showcase of the Asia-Pacific's best LGBTQI talent, and giving the world an inspiring and informative window into our rights in the region," he says. "That's why Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, in conjunction with Brisbane Pride, Melbourne's Midsumma, Auckland Pride and Wellington Pride, is coordinating content in the Asia-Pacific. Prides and other LGBTQI organisations, inspiring speakers and sensational talent planned to join Global Pride. When Global Pride was launched, organisers expected viewers to be watching from home but with lockdown lifting in some countries, they expect some people to be able to watch in groups of friends and hope that bars and venues in some cities may show the event on big screens. They’re encouraging all viewers to follow the socialdistancing and other guidelines from their governments. Julian Sanjivan, Co-President of InterPride, says: “By taking Pride online, not only are we
making sure that LGBTQIA+ people everywhere can still experience the joy and community of Pride, but we also for the first time are enabling people to take part in Pride wherever they are. This means people who aren’t out, or who are living in socially conservative countries, can take part. The support of these incredible world leaders and performers will mean so much to marginalised LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.”
Focusing On Black Lives Matter At First Worldwide LGBT Event lobal Pride, the first ever worldwide gathering of the LGBT+ community, has announced it will put Black Lives Matter at the centre of their event. The event will be a ray of light amid the global coronavirus pandemic that is disproportionately affecting LGBT people.
“The Pride and Black Lives Matter movements share histories of being founded by LGBTI people of colour, and of being founded to fight systemic, cultural and institutional intolerance and discrimination,” Steve Taylor, one of the organisers, said. “It’s only right that we use Global Pride to raise the voice of people of colour from within our community, and so many Prides have already provided content that really shouts the Black Lives Matter message loud and clear.” Global Pride is an initiative from national and international Pride networks in response to hundreds of Pride events were cancelling or postponing due to COVID-19.They’ve been convening meetings and collaborating in a way, never seen before until the coronavirus pandemic.
Putting the hands into local LGBT+ people all over the world, everything on the 24-hour stream of content, is being created by local Prides, but on a global scale. The speeches from world leaders, activists and human rights defenders will all reflect the theme that though Pride events might be cancelled “the spirit of Pride will live on.” Co-Chair of the Global Pride organising committee, Natalie Thompson, says: “As a Black woman in the
LGBTQIA+ community, I feel we must confront the systemic racism and violence facing my Black brothers, sisters and non-binary siblings, in the larger culture and within the LGBQIA+ community. I could not think of a larger platform than Global Pride to do this. I am proud to work beside so many diverse colleagues from around the world. Our community knows well that we must confront hate and prejudice head-on. We have been watching an epidemic of violence against trans people of colour – mostly women – in the past decade and this larger discussion must be inclusive and all encompassing. All Black Lives Matter.”
#BlackLivesMatter: Awareness & Support he #blacklivesmatter movement and protests going on in the USA and various cities worldwide, might feel a world away from Hong Kong, but this international city has a part to play in addressing racism too, and the LGBTQ+ community has always been a champion of equality and human rights. This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, but whatever your race, nationality, religion, or situation, here are some ways to support anti-racism in Hong Kong. Support: Things you can do today •
Read: 5 books to understand the problem
Join events at the Africa Centre Hong Kong, including workshops and
•
conversations about racism at home and abroad. •
People About Race, by Reni Edo-Lodge
Support, donate and volunteer with local Hong Kong charities and NGOs committed to fighting racism and promoting civil rights like the
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White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo
•
Me and White Supremacy, by Layla F Saad
Justice Centre (justicecentre.org.hk), Resolve (resolvehk.org), and
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The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in
Hong Kong Unison (facebook.com/HongKongUnison) •
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White
the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle
Support and donate to international charities and NGOs tackling racism and promoting civil rights like the Human Rights Campaign
•
(hrc.org), American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org), and the official
Alexander So You Want To Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Olou
Black Lives Matter movement (blacklivesmatter.com/)
Watch: 5 films and documentaries on Netflix
Listen: 5 podcasts you can download today •
1619, by The New York Times
• •
The Diversity Gap, by Bethaney Wilkinson Scene on Radio (‘Seeing White’ series), by John Biewen &
• •
13th (documentary) Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap (Season 1, Episode 3)
Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika
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Time: The Kalief Browder Story (miniseries)
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Code Switch, by NPR
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Who Killed Malcolm X? (series)
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About Race, by Reni Edo Lodge
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Dear White People (series)
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Remembering
Written by Ruth Palmer
arry Kramer, a New York-based playwright and essayist, burst into public consciousness as an early agitator in the fight against AIDS. He was incensed by the US’s apathetic public-health response to the crisis. From its detection in 1981, it would take President Reagan four years to say the word “AIDS” into a microphone. By mid-decade, only one pharma company was funding serious research into treatment. At first, Kramer channelled his rage into writing. A 1983 magazine essay titled “1,112 and Counting” was a wakeup call to the LGBT community he felt was sleepwalking towards extinction: “if this article doesn’t scare the shit out
Written by Robert J. Morris
hese days, the meanings, images, definitions, limits, and parameters of the concomitant First Amendment rights (in the US) to peaceably assemble and to demonstrate are under scrutiny in many parts of the world. As we open Pride month and remember its foundations in the history of Stonewall Inn, we are reminded that we celebrate Pride because we commemorate the riots, riots that were started because of oppression and abuse our LGBTQ community went through in a time when civil rights were still not upheld for marginalized communities. Our civil pioneers had had enough and stood against their oppressors. The events of that early morning, June 28th, 1969, when police again raided Stonewall Inn, ignited the LGBT rights movement. The movement started a larger sweep across the country, in support of EQUALITY, and that sweep was first and foremost a demonstration. It continues to this day. Surely, demonstrations (parades, sit-ins, occupations, marches) have many uses and mean many things to many people, but for me, the primary purpose is to “unite the troops,” to bring solidarity, and unity, and camaraderie to the workers in the common cause of LGBT rights. When we march beside each other in public, we refresh our sense of purpose, learn that there are many others in the fight, and gather strength from each other. We march for ourselves and for those who have gone before— our “blessed, honoured, Pioneers.” That visibility is, of course, for all to see, but it becomes powerful for others only when we go from the marches into our various fields of labor to enact the visions and the plans and the goals that we forged in the demonstrations. In other words, a demonstration is not an end in itself but only the start, the jumping-off point for the operationalisation and actualisation of our common purposes.
of you, we’re in real trouble. Our continued existence depends on just how angry you get.” His semiautobiographical play, The Normal Heart (1985) made the case for loud, proud activism the world couldn’t ignore. In 1987, Kramer’s patience gave way. Members of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the patient-care organisation he cofounded, argued public protest would hurt the cause, so he broke away to form ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power).
“Be outraged, offended, angry and intolerant of any discussion or anyone who describes you as unequal, undeserving or unnatural for being just as you are” With barely 300 members, the group was a front-page story from its first “die-in” on Wall Street. Its direct-action tactics were imaginative and media-savvy. An event at the General Post Office was timed for the federal tax deadline, when TV crews were on hand to film last-minute filers. Members invaded the Stock Exchange to protest the company behind the only approved AIDS drug, AZT; days later, Burroughs-Wellcome lowered AZT’s exorbitant cost by a third. Today, ACT UP is a global body and model for grassroots movements. For Kramer, it was a calling that outlived his own HIV diagnosis in 1988 by three decades. His writing won awards and acclaim, but his legacy is defined by his undeniable brand of activism – since recognised for speeding therapeutic advances and prolonging the lives of HIV/AIDS patients. Warm-hearted in private, Kramer grasped the threat posed by a climate of denial and stigmatisation, and saw that only performative displays of fury could shake it. The times handed him his philosophy: “You do not get more
with honey than with vinegar”. Kramer died of pneumonia in May 2020, aged 84. He is survived by his husband. 9
The Equality Economy Written by Joanne Loney
was very excited to have hosted Pink Alliance’s The Equality Economy webinar with Phil Williams in June 2020. If you missed it and would like to watch, a recording is here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.co m/recording/2418443302972394 767 The LGBT+ community has long been under served by the financial sector. A heteronormative attitude continues to dictate the rules around financial planning – ignoring different thoughts and attitudes to money. We wanted to address this and show how taking control of your finances can be accessible and liberating. A key take-away for me was the answers to a poll we took at the beginning of our webinar below:
Do you have up to date wills?
Especially important for the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong as we don’t recognise same sex unions yet. And crucial if you have children. Are you overpaying on your mortgage? Interest rates are rock bottom low at the moment. Is it worth looking at re-mortgaging? Do you have a budget? Not everyone wants to be tied to a budget and if you can still save for future needs without one that’s fine. If you can’t, there are lots of easy to use apps available to help. Do you have a budget? Not everyone wants to be tied to a budget and if you can still save for
future needs without one that’s fine. If you can’t, there are lots of easy to use apps available to help. Do you have/need insurance? Would you be OK if you couldn’t work for an extended period? Do you have anyone who depends on your financially? Can you cover any medical bills? Are you on track for a fabulous financial future? Don’t know where to start? Drop me a line and I can point you in the right direction. Lastly, please do get in touch with us for suggestions or other topics you’d like to hear about at future events.
Update: Marriage Equality CAMPAIGN Written by David Hall
e will be conducting a survey of candidates’ views on LGBT
Yikes! 0% of people think planning finances is exciting and proactive! We didn’t rerun the poll at the end of the webinar but I hope we managed to change some minds. As none of us are likely to be able to have an overseas holiday in the near future and pretty much all business travel has been cancelled now is the perfect time for you and yours to take some time to discuss your dreams for the future and how to get there. Some things you may wish to consider are: •
issues ahead of the September Legislative Council (Legco) elections. The survey follows on from our 2019 District Council survey and we will once again be working with Hong Kong Public Opinion Research (HKPORI). The survey findings will be released to provide information of wide public interest. insurance? Candidate lists are published close to the elections, Do you have/need tentatively set for 6 September, but we hope nonetheless to release Would you be OK if you couldn’t our survey results before then. work for an extended period? Do There are only 70 Legco seats but the structure is complex. Of the you70 have anyone whoin depends on seats, 35 are 5 geographical constituencies and are open to youruniversal financially? Can you cover any suffrage. The remaining 35 seats are in 29 functional medical constituencies bills? of which 30 represent various sectors with restricted franchises and in the District Council (Second) constituency. Our Are you on track 5for a fabulous aim is to reach out to them all. financial future? Sixty-five organisations have so far signed up for Equal Don’t know where to start? Drop Love (www.equallovehk.org), affirming their support for same-sex me a line and I can point you in marriage and the list continues to grow. the right direction. To further extend the scope and reach of Equal Love, we are And please do get in touch with seeking from existing supporters anecdotes and stories about the suggestions for other topics origins of their DnI work, reactions from staff and the impact of their you’d like to hear about at future policies on their organisations, thereby extending the reach of the events. campaign both in Hong Kong and internationally. 10
Do you have up to date
Written by Amy Hanly
iversity and inclusion (D&I) are buzz
Are We Ever Too Old for Love?
words that evoke feel-good and progressive practices. To echo the theme of IDAHOT 2020, "Breaking the Silence," Pink Alliance collaborated with representatives from Community Business, Google, Morgan Stanley and LinkedIn to provide a socially distanced event in support of IDAHOT, discussing the need to move Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from a branding exercise into more meaningful actions. The learnings and initiatives discussed can be applied to many other groups including women, aging and ability status. We covered the evolution of D&I to D,E & I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), the need for and value of allies, using data and the danger of blind spots when using algorithms without regular review. Tony from Google encouraged participants to consider “Culture Add - how can we be enriched?” instead of “Culture Fit - what fits what we already have?” which resonated deeply with the audience. The panel discussed the need to support equality through provided benefits, particularly around support for dependents and partners, not just meeting legislative requirements, the difference in work delivered by people who feel they can be 100% authentic in the office and with their colleagues without fear of consequence and the need for leadership to lead by example, hold managers accountable for fostering the culture, and encourage safe channels for honest feedback. Based on the participation and feedback we will be putting together more webinars and panels in the future, such as another virtual session we held in June called the Equality Economy. If you have ideas on topics that you would like to see discussed then please reach out to events@pinkalliance.hk We are so grateful to Adrienne, Carmen, Katie, Julya & Tony for sharing their time and wealth of experience with us!
Wednesday July 15, 2020 7PM-10PM Hong Kong Arts Centre Louis Koo Cinema
ink Alliance, in conjunction with the Tongzhi Literary Group, is pleased to present a special evening of film and discussion exploring ageing and sexuality, featuring the award-winning film SUK SUK and the book that inspired the story, Oral Histories of Older Gay Men in Hong Kong: Unspoken but Unforgotten. After the film screening, a panel discussion led by Sociology Professor Suen Yiu-Tung of Chinese University of Hong Kong will feature the filmmaker, the author, members of the cast, plus special guests. Directed by Ray Yeung, SUK SUK (叔．叔) tells the story of two closeted men in their twilight years, Pak, a 70-yearold married taxi driver who refuses to retire, and Hoi, a 65year-old retired single father. Despite years of societal and personal pressure, they are proud of the families they have created through hard work and determination. Yet, when they meet, something that had been suppressed for so many years is unleashed in them. The movie received best narrative feature, best leading actors, best supporting actress and best original screenplay nominations from the 2019 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards. This year, it won Best Film and Best Actor awards from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society; Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress from the Hong Kong Film Awards; Best Actor award from the Hong Kong Directors Guild; Best Screenplay and Best Role in a Screenplay awards from the Hong Kong Screenwriters Guild. In Oral Histories of Older Gay Men in Hong Kong: Unspoken but Unforgotten, sociologist and author Travis Kong shines a light on ageing and sexuality, identity and masculinity, power and resistance through thirteen gay men who share their lives in this ground-breaking work. Kong has collected oral histories of men aged sixty and over, capturing the complexities of their lives interwoven with the territory’s history. The difficulties and hardships the men encountered, at a time when homosexual acts were a criminal offense, are examined from colonial to contemporary times. For tickets, please visit: https://pink-alliancesuksuk.eventbrite.hk *This event is presented as a fundraiser for Pink Alliance.
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Written by Stan Guingon
n June 2019, Angus Leung won his final appeal which ended his long battle to force the Hong Kong government to allow him and his husband, Scott Adams, spousal benefits and joint tax assessment. The judgement was expected to bring same-sex couples who have married overseas, a tax assessment option which was previously not allowed. In addition, gay and lesbian civil servants would get spousal benefits including dental and medical. Pink Paper recently set some time aside to visit this dynamic couple to catch up on the first anniversary of that historic ruling. Hi guys! How are you doing? A: Hi Stan, we are doing well! We spent a lot of time in Sai Kung lately, where we live. We did lots of cooking at home and been practicing different recipes. S: We are great thanks, home bound like everyone else for the past few months. We just got a kayak, so we had been exploring the Islands lately! Trying to burn off some of the calories from all the baking! It’s tough time for everyone in the world now, so we hope the quarantine restrictions will be relaxed soon then we can go travel again. Thanks for meeting up to chat about how your year has been since the historic landmark ruling one year ago. So, how have things been since last year? S: There wasn’t much change in our daily life, we continued to go to work and enjoying our hobbies. When we started the case, we knew that there is no actual financial benefit even we win, but we thought it is important to fight for such rights as we want to be treated equally like other married couples and the result could bring benefit to all many others. S: The
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A: We were really glad to see the IRD (Inland Revenue Department) took a very proactive approach in updating their policy. They allowed same sex married couple to file for tax assessment and updated all other sections related to spouse tax benefits even before the relief given by the court, so that they could enjoy the tax benefit in the last tax year. You can also easily find their new policy on their website. [reference: https://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/samesex.htm]. For the civil service benefit, we were able to register Scott as spouse after the case. However, we haven’t seen the change on the general policy yet. We know Ray Chan [legislative counsellor] had raised the question to the Government last month in LegCo and was told that the bureau was still reviewing the policy and administrative procedures. We hope to see the change soon. What were some immediate reactions of your loved ones and co-workers when the news broke out? A: I still remember well the time when we got the result, it was really emotional and we hugged each other and cried. It was a great relief after almost 5 years of fighting in court! Also, we knew what setback it would be if we lost.
S: Our family and friends had always been very supportive, so we got lots of messages of congratulation. Our phones were going crazy! We also hosted a party to thank everyone for all the support that helped us in the journey. After it was reported on the news, it felt strange to be recognised on the street. Random people would come up to say congratulation or give us a thumbs up as we walked by. How have you coped with these changes? Was it easy or did you have some difficulty? S: Everything resumed normal pretty quick. Then our life continued. The costs of the case is still ongoing and unfortunately our lawyers seem to be dragging their heels. Now we are not in the limelight their work on reclaiming our costs has virtually stopped. This is a little frustrating. S: The Has society treated you any different now than before? S: Nope, we still have to pay for our beer đ&#x;˜›. Seriously, we don’t want to be treated differently, S: The we don’t want privilege. We only want to be treated equally and everyone can be who they are and live with dignity. Have you experienced any repercussions since of the ruling? Has either of your families been affected? A: To be honest, not at all. We have not encountered any repercussion during the court and after the ruling. We got a lot of encouragement from the public, a lot of them are like in older generation and families with kids. We think the general public are getting more understanding on the LGBT issues and by giving us equal rights, doesn’t actually affect them at all and is a right thing to do.
Have you already taken advantage of the benefits from the ruling? A: Nah. We don’t actually have any financial benefit apart from Scott appears as spouse in my work record. Maybe if one of us stops working soon, then we can take advantage of the benefit. In a way, both of you have become sort of like ambassadors for LGBT+ Equality in Hong Kong. Any comments? A: Yes, it is some extra responsibility that we are happy to do. During the whole journey, we remember when we first did our interview, we were afraid to show our face or use our name. But throughout the process, we understand that it was not just a fight in the court, it is a fight in the society as well. Therefore, it is important for us to stand out and let the public to understand the issue and what we are actually fighting for: that we want to be treated equally. Any future plans you care to share with us? S: We have a project we are working on for a complete change of lifestyle, that will involve everything that we love: nature, good food, travel, more time to ourselves. We can’t share the details yet, but we should be ready to say in about a year’s time. Anything else you want to add? A & S: If you know anyone, please put pressure on the lawyers, Daly & Associates to not forget us and help to send the bills to the government so we can get some of our money back! haha.. Thanks to the Pink Alliance for all your help in the community too!
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Reprinted in part from the Taipei Times. Written by Adam K Dedman & Victoria Hsu
h i s y e a r ma r k s t h e f i r s t a n n i v e r s a r y s i n c e s a me- s e x marriage was legalized in Taiwan. Many people vividly recall the jubilant images splashed across global news outlets and social media pages when, on this day last year, the Legislative Yuan approved the legalization bill. Countless LGBTI activists, civil society groups and allies worked tirelessly for many years to change hearts and minds, hold the government accountable, democratize intimacy, and legally transform sexual citizenship in Taiwan. More than 3,500 same-sex c o u p l e s h a v e ma r r i e d s i n c e registration was opened on May 24 last year. What democracy and the rule of law has enabled Taiwanese society to achieve is truly impressive; equal citizenship for sexual minorities has always b e e n a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h i s movement. At the political level, apart from the support of President Tsai Ingwen (蔡英文) - who was re-elected for a second term in J a n u a r y a n d o u t s p o k e n lawmakers, one of the unsung heroes of this l e g i s l a t i o n i s t h e indefatigable Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌). As a democracy activist during the authoritarian period, Su was a founding me mb e r of the Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan’s first opposition party formed in 1986 when the country was still under martial law.
He assumed his role as head of the Executive Yuan in January 2019, a mere four months before amassing enough votes to pass the Act for Implementation of Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 748 (司法院釋字第 748號解釋施行法), the legal name of Taiwan’s special law on same-sex marriage. One month after taking office Su released a widely circulated video me s s a g e e x p l a i n i n g t h e government’s draft bill for same sex marriage - a compromise after two anti-gay marriage referendums passed in November 2018 - and encouraged Taiwanese to shed prejudice and support it. The Civil Code would not be changed, but the right to “marry” for same-sex couples would be upheld in respect of the Constitutional Court’s ruling in May 2017. Very few older politicians in Taiwan have courageously spoken out in favor of LGBTI equality as Su has. His public support for our community in Taiwan goes back to 2012 when Su signed a petition regarding the bill of marriage equality launched by the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR). Despite its historic achievement, the Taiwanese same-sex marriage law passed last year does not enshrine true marriage equality. On e o f t h e p r e s s i n g i s s u e s remaining is the marriage rights of transnational same-sex partners. Of all the countries that have passed samesex marriage laws, Taiwan is the only
S: The
14
one that requires both parties to come from a country where samesex marriage is legal. Article 46 of the Act Governing the Choice of Law in Civil Matters Involving Foreign Elements (涉外民事法律適用法) i s i n t e r p r e t e d a s prohibiting such marriages. If the nation truly believes in equality this must be changed. Moreover, Article 20 of the same-sex marriage act only allows married same-sex couples to adopt the biological children of their spouse. While this does recognize and meet the needs of many samesex families with biological children, the restriction constitutes discrimination based on sexual orientation and fails to guarantee the full rights of same-sex couples in matters of adoption. Heterosexual couples, of course, do not face similar restrictions. Taiwan plays an important role as a beacon of freedom and d e mo c r a c y a mi d g r o wi n g authoritarianism in Asia, yet many challenges remain for full equality of sexual minorities. For example, the policy - based on administrative regulations and not a s p e c i f i c l a w - mu s t b e amended so that trans people can c h a n g e t h e i r g e n d e r ma r k e r wi t h o u t t h e u n f a i r requirement of surgery. Taiwan has come a long way and should be commended for its progress, but it can and must do better. Thus, the struggle for truly equal citizenship must continue.
Activities to Enjoy the
Summer
ong Kong’s summer weather brings both joys and challenges, in the form of stunning blue skies and sunshine, along with monsoon rains and blustering typhoons. On the better days, seize the opportunity to get out and explore Hong Kong’s natural beauty, and practice social distancing this summer by avoiding the crowds.
in Hong Kong
Written by Alex Foster
Take a Hike Hong Kong’s multitude of hiking routes offers an easy escape into nature, whether you’re new to the trails or a veteran hiker looking for a challenge. For newbies, start with a gentler but stunning trail like Dragon’s Back, and those seeking a challenge should explore Lantau Island for some steep peaks and exceptional views: Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak can be done individually, or together for one super-long hike.
If you’re looking for company on your outdoor adventures, Out in HK are a group of LGBTQ+ sports enthusiast who organise outdoor activities: https://www.facebook.com/OutinHK/
Hit the Beach Hong Kong is blessed with beautiful beaches alongside its urban spaces, from Repulse Bay lined with bars and restaurants, to more remote corners like Long Ke Wan reachable via a short drive and hike, or by boat from Sai Kung Pier. Beaches like Shek O, Big Wave Bay, and Mui Wo also have plenty of watersport options too, so you can try kayaking, surfing, or stand-up paddle-boarding if you like to keep active.
Chill in the Park If you’re more interested in lounging in the sun than sweating it out, head to the park: West Kowloon Cultural District Art Park has a host of new food and beverage openings if you’re looking for somewhere to recline with a cold drink, or pack up a picnic and spread out a blanket in front of the city skyline. Alternatively, enjoy a more cultural park experience in Kowloon Walled City Park: the former dense walled city has been replaced with a tranquil park, but remnants of the former city remain with preserved historical buildings and a small exhibition about the lives of former residents. 15
Where to Staycation in Hong Kong this Summer Written by Graham Elsom
travel off the cards, there are a few ‘travel’ opportunities right on our doorstep in Hong Kong. Enjoying a staycation can help provide a change of scenery, a new perspective of your home, and help you immerse yourself in parts of the city you’ve never explored before—and you might be surprised by the variety of staycations on offer, for all budgets.
Please note: Make sure to check with each place what their specific pandemic opening and availability is, as the situation is subject to change.
A historic holiday on Lantau Island The former police station, built in 1902, is now the Tai O Heritage Hotel: a beautiful historic building with numerous walks in the hotel grounds and surrounding area. A UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conservation awarded building, it’s only seven kilometres to the Tian Tan Giant Buddha and the Ngong Ping 360 cable cars. Tai O is one of the oldest fishing villages in Hong Kong, and is a huge change from the fast-paced city centre. In addition to the police station, Tai O offers nine other graded historic buildings, including the 320-year-old Yeung Hau Temple which is one of the oldest in Hong Kong. If you would like to explore Tai O and Lantau on a more limited budget, consider a stay in nearby Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay), which is a short drive away from Tai O: plus, the three-star Silvermine Beach Resort is a short ferry ride from Central.
Getting there: Take a taxi or public bus 11 from Tung Chung For more information: www.taioheritagehotel.com www.silvermineresort.com
An island escape on Cheung Chau Another mini-holiday option is the island of Cheung Chau. Less than an hour from Central by ferry, the island is historically famous as a pirates' lair and offers wonderful walks including the opportunity to visit Cheung Po Tsai’s cave, perhaps the site of hidden treasure in days gone by. Cheung Chau’s waterfront seafood restaurants are famous and Hing Lok is one of the best. Ask for Monique or Tony. The Beach Bar is another interesting place to spend a few hours. With beaches, tasty street snacks, historic temples and ample walking trails, there is plenty to keep you occupied for a two-night stay. The three-star Warwick Hotel Cheung Chau is certainly not The Peninsula, but it makes an ideal base from which to explore the island.
?
hile the current pandemic situation has taken international
Getting There: Take the public ferry from Central Pier 5 For more information: www.warwickhotel.com.hk
16
A luxury staycation in Kowloon Closer to home, why not take advantage of the low rates and spend a night or two in luxury at the grandest hotel in Hong Kong, The Peninsula Hong Kong? With its timeless elegance and classical grandeur, The “Grande Dame of the Far East” offers a historical experience with antiques and artefacts to add to the hotel’s interest. Opened in 1928, the hotel is the oldest in the city and offers unique experiences of the city. The hotel is home to one of the city’s few helicopter landing pads, so guests looking to go all-out can take a tour of the city from above. For something slightly less extravagant but perhaps more traditional, enjoy a classic afternoon tea in the Lobby accompanied by a live band, or unwind in the Roman bathsinspired spa.
For more information: www.peninsula.com
A camping weekend at the beach For the young and adventurous, there is no more special a place than Tai Long Wan, known as Big Wave Bay. Consider taking your own tent and camping overnight on this spectacular beach. You will probably have the beach to yourself and it’s hard to believe that just over the hill are 7,000,000 other people. Enjoy a barbecue at the beach, or hit the waves with a surfboard or stand-up paddleboard which you can rent at one of the beach-side stores.
While international travel might seem like a long way off just now, if you’re thinking about your next trip abroad, get in touch with Jebsen Holidays. Offering short group tours and bespoke travel, Jebsen Holidays can help curate a trip to suit your needs.
Contact Graham at:
graham.elsom@jebsenholidays.com.
17
“Homosexual persons should make no effort to try and join society. They should stay right where they are and give their name and serial number and wait for society to form around them. Because it certainly will.” -Quentin Crisp
“Abby & Betty” Bravo Eric for the hard work! FinS is 10 and Les Peches is 9. We have always considered the two groups siblings in Hong Kong’s LGBT community. When we (Abby and Betty, the cofounders of Les Peches) arrived in Hong Kong, we loved – and still do – going to meet our brothers on every third Tuesday on the month. We loved it so much that we created our own group for ladies modelled on this wonderful evening. We even named our group after FinS by also using a fruit analogy to describe our events.
Written by Eric J. Herrera, former Chief Dreamer
Written by Eric J. Herrera, former Chief Dreamer
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“James” Despite the obvious, outward differences in our platforms, there are no two more similar within the Pink Alliance than Fruits in Suits and Mr. Gay Hong Kong. What little I retained from classic Greek philosophy rang in my head during the first three editions of our Mr. Gay Hong Kong titleholder searches. He l l e n i c education wa s transmitted through a pedagogical transfer of knowledge between an older scholar and a younger one – an early manifestation of common and accepted same-sex relationships in a civilized society. I took that very same cue and attended FinS religiously during MGHK’s first three editions. On our fourth year, I felt MGHK had finally built the cache to face FinS
professional and entrepreneurial constituency, as the stalwart network’s co-organizer. A generous, nurturing and creatively driven spirit is at the heart of FinS. And it has to, to drive an LGBT business agenda in a place like Hong Kong. Here, the business environment is all business, regardless of LGBT or mainstream. I have absorbed a lot just by breathing the same air as Eric Herrera – certainly, by hanging out with the fine gentlemen and women of FinS, picking up and taking to heart bits of ‘Best Business Practices’ through their presentations, snippets of conversations, anecdotes told in jest or levity. The Greeks believed in personal, involved mentorship as a cornerstone of civilization. FinS and MGHK are proof that what the Greeks had known and practiced millennia ago, still ring true today. And although certainly more Platonic than what was permissible in Ancient Greece, the dynamics produced from FinS programs today are no less potent. Consider not only what FinS, itself, had been able to do for The Mr. Gay Hong Kong Organization, by having Eric take me under his wing; but what this Organization, now on its sixth year, is able to charge its titleholders with. As a spokesperson of Tongzhi Tsai, the campaign against homophobic bullying in schools, every Mr. Gay Hong Kong becomes a community ambassador and role model for LGBTQ+ youth. This is a testament. FinS works.
“Kevin” “FinS has been a valued platform for me and my organization, Community Business and has allowed us to engage with a wide range of professionals, from a diverse background. In a time when LGBT workplace inclusion was a challenging subject to broach with businesses, the professional network that FinS has established was – and s t i l l i s – a valuable resource.” “Congratulations on 10 wonderful years of operations, Eric. You’ve done a terrific job and a service to the Community and Hong Kong.” “Marc” I have been a supporter of FinS since I moved back to Hong Kong from Tokyo more than seven years ago. I have also worked with FinS as head of the LGBT network at financial institutions and more recently as a founder of the Hong Kong Gay & Lesbian Attorney’s Network (HKGALA). Throughout that period, FinS has operated in a unique space that straddles the professional and the social, the a c t i v i s t a n d t h e ma i n s t r e a m without being tied to any particular institution. I have been particularly impressed with and an enthusiastic supporter of FinS partnership with the Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), to sponsor a mentorship program targeted at LGBT students in Hong Kong and have been a mentor in that program for each of the past five years. I appreciate t h e opportunity it affords me to contribute to the LGBT community in Hong Kong. To be continued in the September 2020
issue...
For Information on monthly events, visit Facebook: @FinS.HK
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(Eric circa 2014)
A Look Back at the 2014 FinS 10th Anniversary
DAVID Ho’s
of
Musician David Ho on Crimson, Creativity & Confidence ynth-pop meets nostalgic ‘90s dance beats on Shades of Red, the second
It is Music to Our Ears
album from singer-songwriter and yoga teacher David Ho. Bursting with feelgood tracks exploring everything from queer identity to mental wellness, the album examines ‘red’ in all its meanings. Pink Paper catches up with David about his inspirations, and how the album came about. Written by Alex Foster Can you tell us a bit about the album? Shades of Red is a collection of songs that reflect what the color red represents to me. There's energy, anger, passion, danger, and love. It's hard for me to pin down the sound but I'd go with 'experimental dance' if I had to describe it succinctly. How did it come about? My last album, Hues of Blue, was a very somber and moody record. So when I started working on this, I wanted to do songs that were the opposite of that. I wanted music that had a kinetic energy to it. And my producers DJ Fabsabs and Timothy Fairless gave me tracks that I could really move to! What do you hope listeners take away from it? On this record, I touch on a lot of different things: body confidence, activism, gratitude, queer connections, and the classic, getting on the dance floor. There's a lot to unpack here if you want to delve into it. But most of all, I hope people find it a catchy and interesting album. There's something in there for everyone. I think that's what the best records are, you know? Something that can be enjoyed at face value but also has layers that you can peel off. What is your creative process like? Usually, I like to go into the studio with a song written and build the track with my collaborators around it. We did that for half of the tracks. But with the other half, we took a different approach where it was more like a jam session. Pete or Tim would make the beats, and I'd add a line or a melody, and it would go on.
I like to be prepared when I 'get to work', but this approach was quite fun too. It's interesting to see what comes out of these more spontaneous sessions. I tend to work in bursts with my collaborators. Breaks happen because of schedules and life, and I need to let a track settle and breathe before coming back to it. Oh, and of course, there’s plenty of procrastination.
19
How do you find inspiration? The sources of inspiration really come from all over. The track, 'My Body is Ready,' was inspired by a meme, my own journey discovering yoga, and coming back swinging from a bad situation. 'Hear The People,' came from the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the HK protests happening at the same time. 'Feel What I Feel,' is a trip down memory lane, remembering that mix of emotions from finding a queer safe space for the first time in the clubs. 'Meditation,' is a tribute to the namesake practice and a meditation on my place I’m in, in life now. Which artists, musical or otherwise, have inspired you? Madonna is the Queen. Period. My earliest memories are of me dancing to her songs. Her work, work ethic, messages, and artistry continues to inspire me. Janet Jackson is also another huge influence on me.
Utada Hikaru is another one of my favorites. Her 'Exodus' album led me to start making music on my laptop as a teen. I had no idea what loops were until I read an interview about her producing the music in her room. Darren Hayes is also another artist whose work really speaks to me. Generally, I love pop culture and the artists that operate in that sphere, especially the ones that aren't afraid to try new things and push boundaries continuously. That's what I aspire to be as a musical artist: to be adventurous and make solid pop tunes that speak my truth. I think I'm on the right track.
Follow David @iamdho
on
Order the album online here: smarturl.it/ShadesOfRed
Dear Aunty Steph
he’s a bitch, she’s a lover, she’s a child, she’s a mother…Is she though? Tell you what she is, she’s Stephanie SlackHouse! A Queen, a drag star, an agony aunt. “Aunty Steph” - that’s who she is, Aunty Steph to all the little children out there needing a little bit of help on their LGBTQ journey. So! How can Aunty Steph help? Well, did you know that Aunty Steph isn’t just a fierce lipsyncher, and HK Drag performer, but is also a qualified teacher, trainer, life coach and soon to be counsellor - you didn’t - well now you do! So, she is going to offer a little Agony Aunt services here at The Pink Paper. You send in your LGBTQ questions, and each issue Aunty Steph will give you her honest, heartfelt, and direct advice. There will be a little shade, but all T! Everyone is in need of a little extra help, and now Aunty Steph is someone you can come to if you are in need. Most of all, Steph is here to listen and help as many people as possible. Drop her a message at info@pinkalliance.hk. with a subject line “Dear Aunty Steph” and she will get back to you in the next edition of the Pink Paper! For more information about Steph’s alter ego Steve & his Life Coaching practice follow him on FB & IG @yourlifeyourcoachHK. Follow Stephanie on FB & IG @stephanie.slackhouse.
Dear Aunty Steph, I am a young gay male. I am a bottom. I want to be honest with you and say that I’ve only had anal sex once. It was messy and it hurt! I’m not sure if I can do it again! I was really embarrassed and now I feel like my sex life is over before it has even started. Any advice please?! Sincerely,
First Time Bottom Hello there you dear bottom, Let Aunty Steph tell you a secret... she was scared the very first time that she took a big tool too! She just didn’t know what to do with that big thing. I want to focus on you feeling hurt, not being sure if you can do it again and feeling like your sex life is over. Quick thing; it isn’t! So, it got a bit messy. You know what, one of the major concerns everyone has when doing anal is the feeling that you are going to poop. THIS IS NORMAL. However, if you have taken the necessary steps to clean yourself then you have nothing to worry about. Do look up how to use a douche. This will make you feel more comfortable. If you do feel like you are about to pop a chocolate log, simply allow the thought to be in your mind, but don’t act on it. In time, your fear will fade away. Remember, the more you freak out, the more powerful your anxiety will become. Relax more. If you are like most people, you probably think bum loving is a real, actual pain in the butt. For you, it sounds like the first time was. I suggest getting yourself some good lube, a couple of fingers, dim the lights and get to playing. See what feels nice and what doesn’t. Secondly how about a sex toy? It will help you to experiment. Also, with your partner, it is vital that you communicate as to what is nice and what isn’t. They aren’t a mind reader. You have to tell them what is good for you. Then they will do more of that! Finally, I want you to realise that porn usually depicts anal sex as hard, fast and rough, not what is actually normal and natural. If you watch a lot of porn you are not seeing anal in it’s true light. No wonder you are scared to try again. Instead of full on anal sex, focus on anal sensuality with your partner. Try a massage, a nice spa or shower. These will help to loosen up your inhibitions and will make you excited about trying anal sex again. Remember patience is best when it comes to anal exploration. Let your bum fun progress naturally and slowly. So, Mr. Bottom, just relax, enjoy, be sensual, be mindful and keep calm. Lots of love,
Aunty Steph xx
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FLM
The Pontiac
One of Hong Kong’s best-known gay bars,
With a rough and retro rock n’ roll vibe,
Styled as a cocktail bar, it would be hard
is renowned for its great happy hour (2-4-
The
that’s
to escape the fact that this is one of
1, 7-9pm) and awesome theme nights,
seriously cool. With an all-female staff,
Hong Kong’s liveliest gay bars. They’re
including weekly screenings of Ru Paul’s
this bar emanates girl power and keeps it real with strong drinks, plenty of shots
BOGOF drinks deal runs 6.30-9pm all week long, but the fun continues all
Eurovision nights. By day when the bar is shut, Cafe FLM opens in the back as a
and a hell lot of fun. If you and your
night here for party animals with fruity
girlfriends are looking for a wild night out,
cocktails and DJ sets until the early
chilled LGBT-friendly hangout and working
this place is it.
hours.
Best for: theme nights / 62 Jervois St, Sheung Wan
Best for: groups, party-goers, tend to be mostly female clientele, | 13 Old Bailey St, Soho
Best for: Party animals | 33 Jervois St., Sheung Wan
Petticoat Lane
Wink
If you’re looking for an LGBT+ friendly space
This fun Sheung Wan bar is one for the
Not every night needs to be a wild one, and this is where T:ME Bar comes in:
in Hong Kong’s rowdy Central nightlife
music lovers. Live bands and karaoke
hidden away behind Hollywood Road,
scene, it would be easy to miss the rainbow flags on the Petticoat’s terrace, sandwiched
nights
entertainment
on Man Hing Lane, this LGBT-friendly
programming here before the DJ comes
bar opens onto Pak Tsz Lane Park and
between LKF and Wyndham Street. This
on later in the evening.
offers chilled-out vibes with great drink
drag race when the new season airs and
Pontiac
Zoo has
authenticity
space.
T:ME
frequent
the
gem has a large dance floor and stellar music selection to match.
offers.
Best for: live music | 79 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan
Best for: quiet drinks | Back entrance, 65 Hollywood Road
Best for: dancing the night away | Basement, 57-59 Wyndham Street, Central
Virus It would be impossible to talk about LGBT+ bars in Hong Kong and not
Les Paradis
Behind Bars As LGBT+ bars go, this one is a little more
mention Virus, on of the city’s oldest ‘girls
far between, so Les Paradis in Kowloon
on the covert side of things. This new bar, opened in 2018 from the same people who
bars’. Recently moving to a new location
is one of Hong Kong’s best places for
in Causeway Bay, Virus has been around
LGBT+ women to drink, meet and
run the LGBT-friendly monthly nightbclub
for over 20 years, creating a chilled
mingle. They have beer pong and darts,
concept ‘Behind’ is in the basement of Tai
nightlife atmosphere for LGBT+ women
and often kick into party mode with
Kwun’s renovated prison barrack block, and
with karaoke and (by Hong Kong’s standards) reasonably priced cocktails.
themed nights and collaborations.
has
a
relaxed
and
sultry
speakeasy
atmosphere that lends itself to a low-key date night.
Best for: date night | Shop 15, G/F, Barrack Block, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central
Linq Bar Reopened after renovations in 2017, Linq is back in business. The cosy club on Pottinger Street often has patrons spilling out onto the cobbles, as its popular with both couples on date nights and singles looking to meet new people. They also do ‘Guys Night’ on Wednesdays, so pop along for their drink deals.
Best for: a low-key party | 35 Pottinger Street, Central
Best for: a catch up with friends | 21F, Chung Way Commercial Building, 447449 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay
Lesbian bars in Hong Kong are few and
Best for: meeting new people over drinks and games | 5th Floor, Cameron Centre, 57-59 Chatham Road South,
Tsim Sha Tsui
Bing Bing HK
Lex Chill Hey
This is the gay hot spot of the moment. On Friday/Saturday nights, the place can get packed with 200+ people. It is fairly busy even on weeknights as well. Unlike the gay bars in Central, the Bing Bing crowd skews much younger, mostly in 20s or early 30s, and vast majority of locals instead of expats.
The lesbian dance party for girls who
Best for: good cheer with friends old and new, great dance music, reasonably priced drinks | 22F Oliv Building, 15 Sharp St E, Causeway Bay
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love girls. It’s not a ‘bar’ per se, but a roaming nightclub concept which takes over some of Hong Kong’s hottest nightclubs, like Zentral and Ophelia. Plus, they’re a big fundraiser and supporter of IDAHO+ which makes them awesome in our eyes.
Best for: a dusk-til-dawn party | www.lexchillheyhk.club
ant to give back to Hong Kong’s LGBT+ community? Pink Alliance is seeking volunteers! Join us on our campaign for marriage equality, help out with events, write for the Pink Paper or lend your skill set to the group. Please contact Director of HR, Nigel Collett for more information about the available roles below: nigel.collett@pinkalliance.hk
VOLUTEER OPPORTUNITIES
CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS: to help plan and execute the marriage equality campaign. CHINESE PRESS OFFICER: to handle the Chinese media for the campaign, speak and make statements in Cantonese. PHOTOGRAPHERS: to work with the Director of Communications, to record PA events and provide pictures for the website and social media. VIDEO CAMERA OPERATORS: to work with the Director of Communications, to record PA events and provide video for the website and social media. WRITERS: to work with the Editor of the Pink Paper in writing pieces in either Chinese or English, or both.
Chairperson Reggie Ho Vice Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer Jerome Yau Company Secretary & Director HR Nigel Collett
Director Website Jim Poon Director Pink Season Jim Poon
Director Communications & Campaign David Hall
Director FinS (Fruits In Suits) Amy Hanly
Director Operations Amy Hanly
Editor English Social Media Deva Lee
Director Policy Jerome Yau
Editor Chinese Social Media Norman Kwan
Director Education Benita Chick
Editor Pink Paper Stan Guingon
Director Health Gordon Wong
Secretary Tristan Lee
Director IT Isaac Yick
Treasurer Joanne Loney
Director Fundraising Alex See
Legal Advisor Alfred Ip
TRANSLATORS: to translate from English to Chinese and/or from Chinese to English for any PA publication and website. DESIGNERS: to help several departments design and prepare online and hard copy pages, social media entries, brochures, posters and leaflets.
Director Outreach Roger Steel
https://pinkalliance.hk 22