More than 2,000 people marched in Hong
Kong's Gay Pride Parade on Saturday, the AFP
reported.
The crowd marched through the city
center demanding greater rights in what is considered one of the
safest regions in Asia for LGBT people.
“We are here today because we want
the society to know who we are and we hope they don't discriminate
against the LGBT community,” Mic Au, a 21-year-old student, told
the AFP.
“I hope the government will enact
laws that ban discrimination against homosexuals, at workplace or at
school,” she added.
While homosexuality was officially
decriminalized in 1991, Hong Kong has not enacted laws barring
discrimination against gay men and lesbians or recognizing the unions
of gay couples. The military bans gay troops and there is no right
to legally alter a person's gender.
However, activists at the parade said
progress was being made.
“Hong Kong is much more progressive
than the rest of Asia, the LGBT groups are getting more prominence
here,” said Goki Muthusamy, who moved from Singapore to Hong Kong
three months ago.