A roster of big banks helped bankroll
the estimated $26,000 tab to hold this weekend's fifth annual Hong
Kong Gay Pride Parade.
Organizers estimated 5,200 people took
part in the march, more than twice as many as two years ago. Police
estimated the crowd at 4,500.
Marchers stepped off at Victoria Park
and followed a giant rainbow flag to the government offices in
Admiralty. Leading the parade was Equal Opportunities Commission
chairperson Dr. York Chow Yat-ngok.
“LGBTs face discrimination at home,
in education, in the workplace and in social circles,” Chow said in
addressing the crowd gathered at Victoria Park. “Hong Kong should
move ahead, and I hope you can influence everyone in society to move
forward.”
JP Morgan and Citibank joined Barclays,
Goldman Sachs and Nomura, along with two dozen other companies, as
corporate sponsors of this year's parade.
“The Hong Kong Pride Parade creates
an opportunity for LGBT and LGBT-friendly people to come together and
raise awareness of LGBT inclusiveness in Hong Kong,” Paul Choi,
executive director of Goldman Sachs' Human Capital Management
division, said in a statement. “As a company, we have been
participating in the parade since 2008, and we are glad to see more
people taking part as Hong Kong becomes more inclusive.”
“Citi is proud to sponsor HK Pride,”
Justin Lowes, regional head of Service Management at Cibibank Hong
Kong, said in a statement provided
to Fridae. “We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive
environment for all employees within Citi and this philosophy extends
to the families of our employees, our community, customers and our
future employees. We view HK Pride as a public demonstration of this
commitment and most importantly an opportunity for us to vocally
support the LGBT and LGBT ally community in Hong Kong.”