It was a year of small wins for gay rights around the world, but in Asia-Pacific hopes of a breakthrough event that would overcome deeply conservative cultures that keep homosexuals in the closet failed to materialise. Taiwan promised sweeping recognition of gay rights, but failed to deliver. A Hong Kong couple got married in Toronto but are no closer to winning legal recognition at home. The Anglican Church in Southeast Asia turned its back on a gay bishop in the US. We lost gay icon Leslie Cheung to suicide. But Singapore proved to surprise, with PM Goh making positive noises about gays and the Nation 03 party firmly establishing the city-state as an unlikely gay beacon.
From top: Taiwan?s President Chen Shui-bian, two of the 5000 revellers at Singapore?s Nation.03, the late openly gay superstar Leslie Cheung and attendees of Sydney?s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
In Taiwan, President Chen Shui-ban dangled the prospect of a human rights bill that would have included recognition of same-sex couples. The new law would have made Taiwan, an island state off the coast of mainland China and with a population of 22.5 million, the first in Asia to recognise gay and lesbian couples. But by early December, it became apparent that Chen did not have the support of his Cabinet or the ruling Democratic Progress Party and may have been playing for headlines ahead of his receiving a human rights award from the International League for Human Rights. James Chan Ming-chou, founding director of the Taiwan Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Association (TGLHRA) believes the bill was deemed too sensitive to put forward due political inroads made by the conservative Kuomintang (KMT) in the run-up to elections on March 20 next year. ?The Presidential Office is afraid of pressure from the straight community because of the presidential elections,? Chan said. He added that the human rights law was nowhere near completion and was unaware of any input from Taiwan?s gay and lesbian community on what they want in such a law. ?But even when they talked about this issue, the government itself said it was just a proposal, a plan, and not a reality.?
Singapore surprises
Singapore continued to surprise the gay communities in Asia-Pacific, bring that gay sex is still a crime in the island state and the government shows no signs of repealing that law any time soon. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said in an interview with Time (Asia) published in July that, given time, conservative Singaporeans will be more understanding towards gays, commenting that ?in time the population will understand that some people are born that way.? He was also quoted as saying that gays will now be allowed to serve in ?sensitive positions? in the civil service. PM Goh admitted in the article, the main thrust of which discusses Singapore?s bleak economic climate and its reliance on foreign workers; that the change in policy is inspired at least in part by the desire not to exclude talented foreigners who are gay. Despite the law, which has not been used for many years, Singapore has a thriving and well-organised gay community.
But Malaysia does not
Malaysia?s leader for 22 years, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, retired as prime minister, but used his final months to fire off broadsides at just about everything that offended him, including gays and ?western culture.? In a nationally televised address to mark Independence Day, Mahathir pulled no punches. ?Western films idolise sex, violence, murders and wars. Now they permit homosexual practices and accept religious leaders with openly gay lifestyles," he said. He added: "They are very angry ? especially their reporters, many of whom are homos ? when we take legal action against these practices." Same-sex acts in Malaysia are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a flogging.
In 2001, Mahathir said in widely circulated media reports that he would throw out any gay British minister should he visit the country with his male partner, a pointed barb aimed at the Foreign Office secretary responsible for Malaysia. The former PM used sodomy laws to jail his former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998. Anwar is serving a 15-year sentence and is designated an Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was handpicked by Mahathir to succeed him as prime minister in November, says he will continue the country's strict Muslim prohibitions against homosexuality. Of concern is the drift towards Islamic law in some Malaysian states. The ruling Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) state government in Terengganu wants to enforce death by stoning for sodomy and adultery and the whipping of Muslims who drink alcohol, though Mahathir did denounce the move as a political ploy by the PAS to gain political support among orthodox Muslims.
From top: Taiwan?s President Chen Shui-bian, two of the 5000 revellers at Singapore?s Nation.03, the late openly gay superstar Leslie Cheung and attendees of Sydney?s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
As evidence of Singapore?s growing stature in the Asia-Pacific gay community, Nation.03 attracted 5000 revellers, some 1200 of them flying in from around the region for the event, which has firmly established itself on the world?s gay calendar after only three years. ?Nation is no longer ?just a dance party,?? said Stuart Koe, chief executive of Fridae.com, which organises the event. ?In three short years, it has evolved into a major celebration of social diversity and acceptance.? He said Singapore ?has moved towards being a society highly tolerant of diversity, and Nation reflects this shift in mindset.? Koe has said that the gay community in Singapore, by negotiating de facto recognition from the government, can bring about social change without challenging the government?s political hegemony. So successful has been the community, that international media has recognised Singapore?s emergence as Asia?s gay entertainment capital. Time (Asia) in August devoted a page to its attractions for the gay traveller. Singapore relaxed its entertainment laws such as lifting the ban on bar top dancing and allowing some establishments to close later than 3am. Aside from the growing number of businesses openly catering to gays and lesbians in Singapore in recent years, Koe said mainstream businesses in Singapore were gradually becoming more open about pitching their products and services to gays and the pink dollar industry is tipped to boom over the next five years.
Iconic loss
Gay icon Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing jumped to his death on April 1 from the 24th floor of Hong Kong?s Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The singer-actor, who had been battling depression, left a note thanking his partner of nearly two decades, Daffy Tong Hok-tak for all he?d done for him. Cheung?s death, at the age of 46, was deeply felt by the world?s 66 million Cantonese speakers, as well as among a wider audience who knew his work in films such as Farewell My Concubine and Happy Together. Cheung was one of the few Asian stars to play gay roles in movies. But more noteworthy was that he chose to play the parts not for conventional laughs but to say that it?s okay to be gay. As an entertainer, his 2000-01 Passion Tour revealed a complex, gay man experimenting with queer themes. He was not political ? he saw himself first and foremost as an artist and entertainer ? and he never spoke publicly in support of gay rights, and when pressed in an interview with Time Asia, he would only comment: ?It?s more appropriate to say I?m bisexual.? He did, however, let his name be associated with gay causes and openly acknowledged Tong as ?the one I love most in life.? Tong?s name appeared in the official funeral notice posted by the Cheung family in the place of surviving spouse. Cheung was a ?leading-edge social reformer? who took fans into his confidence and found they accepted him for who he was.
Wedding bells
Hong Kong Chinese couple Roddy Shaw and Nelson Ng raised the stakes in their fight for recognition of same-sex couples with their September wedding in Toronto as Canada announced plans to give the full backing of national law to gay marriage. Shaw and Ng had been trying to gain access to spousal tax benefits under Hong Kong law, but had their Vermont civil union rejected on the grounds that it was not ?a marriage.? Now, armed with a Canadian marriage licence, they are preparing to a new challenge, probably on the grounds of international human rights. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien?s announcement of legislation to recognise gay marriage raised the possibility of gay couples from the United States and elsewhere using a Canadian licence to demand the rights and benefits accorded married couples back home. US President George W Bush sided with proposals for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between one man and one woman, while vowing to ?defend the sanctity of marriage.? Democrats, with the presidential elections due late this year, fear a political backlash on the issue among conservative Democrat votes, including blacks and Hispanics. Adding fuel to the fire was a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that barring same-sex couples from marriage was unconstitutional and gave the state until May to fix the law. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, finally brought the United States into line with much of the rest of the world, ruling that the sodomy law in the state of Texas ? and as a consequence 12 other states where such laws are in place ? was an invasion of privacy and unconstitutional.
From top: Taiwan?s President Chen Shui-bian, two of the 5000 revellers at Singapore?s Nation.03, the late openly gay superstar Leslie Cheung and attendees of Sydney?s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The Episcopal Church of the USA ignored calls from leaders of the worldwide Anglican community for further discussion and proceeded with the consecration of openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. The decision led Anglican synods in Africa and Southeast Asia to break communion with the American arm of the church until the decision was reversed. The Synod of the Province of Anglican Church of South East Asia, meeting in emergency session on November 20, said its decision had the unanimous support of church leaders in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos and Nepal. The Anglican Primate of Southeast Asia, Archbishop Yong Ping Chung, said: ?The province views the purported consecration as a flagrant disregard of the fundamental teachings of the Bible and the long established doctrines of the Church.? The consecration of Bishop Robinson has raised fears of a schism in the Church, which counts 77 million adherents in 160 countries, though similar concerns were raised over the issue of the ordination of women in the 1980s. This issue, however, runs far deeper and goes to fundamental beliefs about the power of The Bible in some orthodox Christian teachings. The Southeast Asia province broke with the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada in June after it authorised public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has called a special council to discuss the ramifications of the American move.
Catholic dialogue
Gay activists in Hong Kong, angered by the Roman Catholic Church?s position on homosexuality and the Vatican?s call for Catholic lawmakers to do everything in their power to block or reverse legislation recognising gay rights, staged a noisy protest in front of the altar of the island?s main cathedral. Rainbow Action admitted it was a publicity stunt, but it succeeded in opening debate in Hong Kong on the issue of same-sex marriage and lack of progress on laws to protect gays from discrimination.
Hong Kong decriminalised gay sex in 1991, but there has been no further progress towards protection of gay rights, with activists blaming opposition from the religious right for government inaction. A meeting convened between representatives of the gay community and Bishop Joseph Zen, head of the Roman Catholic congregation, helped cool tempers, with Zen, an outspoken advocate of human rights, throwing his support behind equal rights efforts. Other mainstream church leaders also endorsed equal rights. Christians, however, number only about 600,000 of Hong Kong?s 6.7 million people, and the government maintains the predominantly Chinese society is not ready to deal with issues like same-sex marriage. Gay activists counter that China?s Special Administrative Region should take the legislative lead to protect minorities from the dictates of the majority.
From top: Taiwan?s President Chen Shui-bian, two of the 5000 revellers at Singapore?s Nation.03, the late openly gay superstar Leslie Cheung and attendees of Sydney?s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales passed a law in May setting the age of consent for gay males at 16, the same as that for heterosexuals and lesbians and bring the state into line with the other states. The bill passed both houses of parliament by an overwhelming majority. ?Tonight, the NSW Parliament finished the job it started almost 20 years ago,? said NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesman Robert McGrory. ?Homosexuality has finally been fully decriminalised in NSW.? McGrory said the challenge now was to fight discrimination and called on the state to lead the push for equal rights. NSW decriminalised gay sex in 1983. The state of Tasmania maintained sodomy was a crime until the late 1990s.
Mardi Gras survives
The Australian city of Sydney celebrated its 25th Mardi Gras in early March, attracting an estimated 250,000 spectators and participants, half the usual turnout but not bad for an event that declared bankruptcy in August 2002 following a loss of A$500,000. At its peak, the Sydney Gay and lesbian Mardi Gras was worth an estimated A$10 million to the city?s coffers. Organisers, faced with numerous challenges, were pleased with the result. Stevie Clayton, co-chairwoman of New Mardi Gras, said the more modest event is likely to enjoy a surplus of more than A$350,000, some A$300,000 more than its original forecast just of A$50,000. She attributed the success to community support, as seen by the sale of 17,000 tickets to the post-parade party at Fox Studios. The parade was smaller than previous years, with 140 floats compared with 200 last year. The Sydney Mardi Gras, which grew from a brutal clash between gay rights activists and police in 1978, is the largest nighttime event in the gay world.
China inches forward
Encouraging signs emerged from China that the authorities are willing ton consider recognition of gays and lesbians in the world?s most populous country, with Shanghai?s prestigious Fudon University offering what is believed to be the first course devoted to the topic of homosexuality. Fudon has received funding support for the university?s course number 2224 ??Homosexual Health, Society and Science? ? from Hong Kong?s Chi Heng Foundation, a charitable organisation which focuses on education about sexual orientation as well as support for people with Aids. Foundation chairman Chung To said the university was approached early in 2003 with the idea of offering the course. ?The course does not aim to promote homosexuality, but an understanding of homosexuality,? To said. ?I think with the absence of a strong Judeo-Christian heritage, discrimination against Tongzhi in contemporary Chinese societies is mainly caused by ignorance and misunderstanding.? A related editorial in Hong Kong?s South China Morning Post welcomed the course as ?an encouraging sign.? The newspaper observed that in countries ?where taboos about homosexuality have been broken down over the years, the seeds of change have often been sown in the universities.?