W v Registrar of Marriages

(Priscilla Poon)


W v Registrar of Marriages was regarded as a symbolic move in promoting the LGBT rights in Hong Kong.

W, who was originally born as a male, has successfully undergone sex reassignment surgery and became a female in 2008. She was then issued a new identity card and a passport reflecting her sex as a female. In the same year, she was denied on marrying her boyfriend due to her biological sex which was for marriage purposes and Hong Kong does not recognize same sex marriage.

W believed that her rights has been violated and has appealed to the Court of Final Appeal. In May 2013, the Final Court has overturned the decision made previously and allowed W to marry her boyfriend legally.

In my point of view, I think that transgender persons in Hong Kong face different challenges as they live in the society. They are normally not welcomed and accepted by minority of people such as those with religious backgrounds and reactionaries. They have to deal with others gossiping behind and the unfriendly gaze when they are in public places.

Everyone has their rights to do things that they like and wish to do. I think majority of us still do not understand the situation that the transgender people are in and the hardship that they are going through. As long as their actions do not harm others in the society, their rights should also be respected and to offer help to them when they are in need.

Beside respect, love is also another important element to help them to fit in the society. By giving love to them, they can feel that they are warmly welcomed by others and to help them to be proud of who they are.

No matter which gender and sex orientation are you in, everyone deserved to be loved and respected.