Can homosexuals get married?
Homosexual marriage has been a controversial topic in Hong Kong. Knowing that Hong Kong promotes the core value of freedom and fairness, it is inconsistent with the fact that homosexuals are still being discriminated against in this liberal city. According to the Basic Law (2012), Article 37, ‘The freedom of marriage of Hong Kong residents and their right to raise a family freely shall be protected by law.’ Without stating the nature of marriage, the legalization of homosexual marriage still remains doubtful. Both the affirmative and the opposition have their strong reasons supporting their stance. Therefore, in this essay, the possible way outs of this issue will be studied, with the first one being adhering to the current law and banning homosexuals. The other two solutions are the legalization of homosexual marriage as well as re-defining ‘gender’ and acknowledging transsexuals in the current law. Among these three solutions, giving recognition to transgender and allowing transsexual marriage is the most advantageous solution.
Keeping the current law of marriage and educating homosexuals on the expected gender role are believed to be the best possible result for the opposition of homosexual marriage. Hong Kong, as a part of China, concerned about the traditional family values. People believe that couples have the duty of giving birth and expanding the family structure. As homosexual couples, especially male homosexual couples, might not be able to reproduce, this will further weaken this crucial value to society. Besides, parents will have to consider and handle the confusion created to children about the gender role perception brought by the legalization of homosexual marriage. This would provoke great opposition especially among people with religious background, as quoted from Good News Bible (1994), Romans 1:26-27, “For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural: And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men”. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and these homosexual “wrongdoer” will not inherit the kingdom of God.
However, these reasons are not strong enough to object the legalization of homosexual marriage. Firstly, reproduction is not the main purpose of marriage in this modern society. South China Morning Post (2012) stated that the birth rate of Hong Kong is relatively lower among the world. A total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is regarded as the level of inter-generational replacement while Hong Kong has the fertility rate at 1.04 per woman only. It explained that marriage is not only for reproduction, so it is not a must to consider reproduction when justifying homosexual marriage. Secondly, people have the freedom of religious belief. Therefore, whether homosexuality is a sin makes no differences to atheists. But we have to admit that homosexual marriage will cause confusion on gender role perception.
To show respect to different sexual orientation, legalization of homosexual marriage is another possible solution. In a survey I conducted on this issue, asking for 160 secondary school students’ sexual orientation, 7% of them claimed that they are homosexuals, while over 16% said they are bisexual. Having over one-fifth of the respondents being homosexuals, the society should not neglect, or even, discriminate against them and exploit their freedom of marriage. Other than that, homosexual sexual marriage has already been legalized in 15 countries. Hong Kong as an international city with high degree of autonomy should follow this democratic trend.
However, there are limitations in the legalization of same-sex marriage. Statistics (2012) show that homosexual couples who are living in countries that allow same-sex marriage, have shorter relationship duration. This circumstance shows the low determination of homosexuals in having failure of the marital establishment. It reveals that homosexual marriage is often highly unsuccessful. Together with the unfavorable impacts on the younger generation, legitimacy of homosexual marriage seems to be unsustainable and irresolute.
To strike a balance between the two stands, giving recognition to transgender and allowing transsexual marriage creates double winning situation. Transgender has to go through the whole process of sex reassignment therapy, showing their strong determination in changing their gender by giving time and money to undergo medical procedures. They are more likely to sustain longer relationship. Thus, it is reasonable to give acknowledgement to their ‘new gender’ upon all their efforts and allow them to get married. Recently, according to (2013), Michael Vidler, a heroic activist lawyer, won the right for his anonymous transsexual client to marry. This momentous change arouses public’s attention towards whether the rest of the transsexuals can get married. Adhering to the principle of fairness, all transsexuals should have an equal right to wed. This step not only gives hope and a possible solution to the homosexuals, but also alleviates the impacts on gender role confusion of youngsters. As transsexuals go through sex reassignment therapy, their voice, appearance, sexual organs and even hormones change accordingly. They look as normal as heterosexuals. Therefore, transsexuals will not create confusions to children. Although homosexuals still cannot get married and not everyone can afford or are willing to go through those medical procedures, this action marks the beginning of the fight of the freedom and equality of the homosexuals.
In conclusion, Hong Kong as a democratic international city of liberty and fairness, allowing transsexual marriage is considered as the most appropriate move in the journey of fighting for homosexual marriage. The legalization of transsexual marriage not only fosters the idea of social equality, but has also considered the societal gender perception in general.
Keeping the current law of marriage and educating homosexuals on the expected gender role are believed to be the best possible result for the opposition of homosexual marriage. Hong Kong, as a part of China, concerned about the traditional family values. People believe that couples have the duty of giving birth and expanding the family structure. As homosexual couples, especially male homosexual couples, might not be able to reproduce, this will further weaken this crucial value to society. Besides, parents will have to consider and handle the confusion created to children about the gender role perception brought by the legalization of homosexual marriage. This would provoke great opposition especially among people with religious background, as quoted from Good News Bible (1994), Romans 1:26-27, “For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural: And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men”. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and these homosexual “wrongdoer” will not inherit the kingdom of God.
However, these reasons are not strong enough to object the legalization of homosexual marriage. Firstly, reproduction is not the main purpose of marriage in this modern society. South China Morning Post (2012) stated that the birth rate of Hong Kong is relatively lower among the world. A total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is regarded as the level of inter-generational replacement while Hong Kong has the fertility rate at 1.04 per woman only. It explained that marriage is not only for reproduction, so it is not a must to consider reproduction when justifying homosexual marriage. Secondly, people have the freedom of religious belief. Therefore, whether homosexuality is a sin makes no differences to atheists. But we have to admit that homosexual marriage will cause confusion on gender role perception.
To show respect to different sexual orientation, legalization of homosexual marriage is another possible solution. In a survey I conducted on this issue, asking for 160 secondary school students’ sexual orientation, 7% of them claimed that they are homosexuals, while over 16% said they are bisexual. Having over one-fifth of the respondents being homosexuals, the society should not neglect, or even, discriminate against them and exploit their freedom of marriage. Other than that, homosexual sexual marriage has already been legalized in 15 countries. Hong Kong as an international city with high degree of autonomy should follow this democratic trend.
However, there are limitations in the legalization of same-sex marriage. Statistics (2012) show that homosexual couples who are living in countries that allow same-sex marriage, have shorter relationship duration. This circumstance shows the low determination of homosexuals in having failure of the marital establishment. It reveals that homosexual marriage is often highly unsuccessful. Together with the unfavorable impacts on the younger generation, legitimacy of homosexual marriage seems to be unsustainable and irresolute.
To strike a balance between the two stands, giving recognition to transgender and allowing transsexual marriage creates double winning situation. Transgender has to go through the whole process of sex reassignment therapy, showing their strong determination in changing their gender by giving time and money to undergo medical procedures. They are more likely to sustain longer relationship. Thus, it is reasonable to give acknowledgement to their ‘new gender’ upon all their efforts and allow them to get married. Recently, according to (2013), Michael Vidler, a heroic activist lawyer, won the right for his anonymous transsexual client to marry. This momentous change arouses public’s attention towards whether the rest of the transsexuals can get married. Adhering to the principle of fairness, all transsexuals should have an equal right to wed. This step not only gives hope and a possible solution to the homosexuals, but also alleviates the impacts on gender role confusion of youngsters. As transsexuals go through sex reassignment therapy, their voice, appearance, sexual organs and even hormones change accordingly. They look as normal as heterosexuals. Therefore, transsexuals will not create confusions to children. Although homosexuals still cannot get married and not everyone can afford or are willing to go through those medical procedures, this action marks the beginning of the fight of the freedom and equality of the homosexuals.
In conclusion, Hong Kong as a democratic international city of liberty and fairness, allowing transsexual marriage is considered as the most appropriate move in the journey of fighting for homosexual marriage. The legalization of transsexual marriage not only fosters the idea of social equality, but has also considered the societal gender perception in general.