( TCJM - Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting)

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The  Pink  Paper  Issue  2,  December  2014  

Chairperson’s  Message  –  John  Erni  

The  Christmas  season  will  soon  be  with  us,  and  we’ll  see  lots  of  commotion  and   celebration.   Pink   Alliance   concludes   a   challenging   but   fruitful   year.    Our   activities   –  most   notably  Pink  Dot,   IDAHOT,   and  more   recently  Pink  Season   –   continue   to   chart   new   paths   to   build   more   allies   in   the  community,   further  opening  up  more   spaces   for   community   support  and  mutual   understanding.     Our   advocacy   activities,   including   our  participation   in   both   local   EOC-­‐led   consultation   and   international   UN  committee   work,   have   raised   our   own   awareness   of   the   long   struggles  ahead   of   us   to   bring   about   social,   political,   and   cultural   recognition   of  LGBT  lives  in  and  beyond  Hong  Kong.    This  has  also  been  a  year  in  which  we   have   seen   more   and   varied   support   of   our   work   from   many  organizations  and   individuals.    To  our  supporters  and  sponsors,  we  send  our   heartfelt   gratitude   and   holiday   greetings.     Here’s   to   a   prosperously  queer  2015!  

 

 

 

DO  YOU  WANT  TO  DO  SOMETHING  FOR  THE  LGBTI  COMMUNITY?  JOIN  US  AS  A  VOLUNTEER.  CONTACT  OUR  VOLUNTEER  OFFICER  AT  volunteer@tcjm.org  

What  we  have  done  recently  

WHAT  HAVE  WE  DONE  RECENTLY  

PINK  SEASON  

This  year’s  Pink  Season  ran  from  September  to  November  and  was  bigger  than  ever.    Co-­‐Directors  Betty  Grisoni  and  Abby  Lee  set  the  theme   this   year   as   ‘Pink  Plus’,   and  widened  the  earlier  scope  of  the  season  to  expand  the  number   and   type   of   sporting   events   and   to  add   food   and   beverage   participants   to   the  list   of   attractions.     An   estimated   7,500  people   attended   the   85   arts   and   culture,  sports  and  wellness  and  social  events.    

Gordon  Wong  as  Arts  and  Culture  Officer  found  eleven  events  to  include  in  the  Season,  including  some  celebrities:    American  writer  and  satirist  David  Sedaris   appeared   in   ‘Story   Worthy   Week’   and   Australian   photographer  Laura  Simonsen  showed  her  exhibition   ‘Family’.    With  the  help  of  the  US  Consulate-­‐General,  American  producers  Charles  Ignacio  and   John  Catania  screened   two   of   their   films:  The  Lady  in  Question   is  Charles  Busch,   about  the   most   famous   female   impersonator   in   the   US,   and   In   the   Life,   a   look  back  at  the  figures  and  issues  involved  in  the  struggles  for  LGBT  equality  in  Hong  Kong  in  the  1990s.  

 In  This  Life                                                                  The  Lady  in  Question  is  Charles  Busch  

The  musical  Mamma  Mia  showing  at  the  APA  was  also  listed  in  this  year’s  season.  

MAMMA  MIA  

One  notable  arts  event  included  for  the  first  time  this  year  was  the  Art  Factory  held  on  16  October  at  Azure.  This  featured  the  work  of  16  artists  and  was  sponsored  by  Absolut  Vodka,  to  whom,  with  Azure,  our  hosts,  we  are  most  grateful.  

Art  Factory  in  Azure,  LKF  Hotel  Central  

 

This   year,   Barclays   sponsored   our  Sports   Weekend   at   Li   Po   Chun  World   College,   Ma   On   Shan,   where  Dennis   Philipse   and   his   team  coordinated   a   series   of   sports  events,   including   tennis,   volleyball,  football   and  bubble   soccer.    Dennis,  who   runs   Out   in   Hong   Kong,  coordinated  all  the  21  sports  events  coordinated  in  the  Season.    This  was  his  first  year  with  Pink  Alliance  and  we   are   very   grateful   for   his  contribution.   The   Season  culminated   in  the  annual  Out   in   the  Open   party,   held   this   year   on   the  beach  at  Shek  O,  run  as  usual  by  Eric  Herrera,  who  was  joined  this  year  as  Co-­‐Director   by   Darrick   Sampson.  The   financial   advisers   Infinity  sponsored   the   event,   as   they   are  doing  for  many  of  our  activities,  and  we   are   most   grateful   to   them   for  their  help.  

Dennis  Philipse  

Pink  Season  Sports  Event  

Betty  Grisoni  with  Andrew  McFarland  and  Colin  Dunlop  from  Barclays  

Happy  Cow  provided  Gluten  Free  Ice  Cream  for  Pink  Season  Sports  Weekend  

Darrick  Sampson  Eric  Herrera  

Dickson  Lau  and  Friends  

The  Pink  Season  would  not  have  been  possible  without  the  energy  and  drive  of  Eric  Herrera  in  raising  funds  to  pay  for  it  and  of  Dickson  Lau  who  found  the  volunteer  manpower  to  run  it.  We  are  very  grateful  to  them  both.  

Out  in  the  Open  

Yoga  by  the  Beach  

Infinity  Sponsor  for  OITO  2014   Kinman  Wong  serenaded  the  crowd  

LOBBYING  THE  UNITED  NATIONS  IN  REGARD  TO  THE  CONVENTION  ON  THE  ELIMINATION  OF  DISCRIMINATION  AGAINST  WOMEN  

Our   Vice   Chairperson,   Joanne   Leung,   and   QSA’s  Geoffrey   Yeung   travelled   to   Geneva   to   represent  the  PA  at  the  United  Nations  CEDAW  formal  review  session   in   October,   to   lobby   about   the   lack   of  legislation   in  Hong  Kong   to   outlaw  discrimination  against  LGBT  women,  and   in  particular   to   take  up  the   issue   of   the   Hong   Kong   government’s  imposition   of   enforced   full-­‐scale   sterilisation   and  construction   surgery   as   the   requirement   for   the  grant  of  recognition  of  acquired  gender.    Our  aims  

were  only  partially  achieved,  as  the  Committee  did  not  include  the  latter  issue  in  its  Concluding  Observations,  it  was  thought  by  our  delegation  

due  to  the  fact  that  Hong  Kong  had  to  share  the  review   process   with   Mainland   China.   The  Committee   seems   to   have   given   issues   raised  by   their   NGOs   greater   priority.   Nevertheless,  our  participation  was  a   first   and  our   concerns  received   a   public   airing   in   Geneva   and   this   is  the   first   time   that   the   CEDAW   Committee   has  included   LGBT   issues   in   their   Concluding  Observations.  

 

Joanne  Leung,  Vice  Chairperson  

Geoffrey  Yeung,  QSA  

PRIDE  PARADE  

A  group  of  volunteers  from  the  PA  marched  under  our  own  banner  in  Hong  Kong’s  Pride  parade  on  7  November.    

CHINA  LGBT  FORUM  

Our  Vice  Chairperson,  Joanne  Leung,  travelled  to  Beijing  in  November  to  represent  the  PA  at  the  China  LGBT  Forum.  Unfortunately,  the  meeting  was  cancelled  at  last  minute  due  to  pressure  from  the  Chinese  government.    

INTERNATIONAL  HUMAN  RIGHTS  DAY  

Our   Campaign   Officer,   Dickson   Lau  and  a  small  team  represented  the  PA  by  running  a  stall  at  the  International  Human   Rights   Day   fair   at   Paterson  Street   in   Causeway   Bay   on   Saturday  6  December.  

Dickson  Lau,  Medeline  Mok  and  Nigel  Collett  

ADVOCACY  

Our   Advocacy   Group  participated   in   the   Equal  Opportunity   Commission  (EOC)’s   consultative   review  of   anti-­‐discrimination  legislation   and   attended   the  three   public   forums   held   by  the   EOC.     We   have   made  submissions   this   period   to  the  EOC  on   the  same  subject.    Our  advocacy  volunteers  also  lobbied   Legislative   Council  (Legco)   members   and  officials   over   the   attempt   by  the  Government   to   introduce  a   bill   only   allowing  marriage  to   male   and   female  transgendered   who   have  undergone   the   full   range   of  surgery.   The   bill   was  defeated   in   Legco   and   the  issue   has   gone   back   to   an  Inter   Departmental   Working  Group   (IDWG)   for  reconsideration.  

COMMUNITY  BUSINESS  DIVERSITY  CONFERENCE  

Brian  Yeung  represented  the  Pink  Alliance  at  Community  Business's  diversity  conference  in  November.  

OUT  ON  THE  STREET  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several  members  of  the  Pink  Alliance  attended  Todd  Sears's  Out  on  the  Street  business  diversity  leadership  conference  in  Hong  Kong  in  December,  including  Billy  Leung  and  Henness  Wong.  

‘I  AM  ME’  VIDEOS    -­‐  AN  OFFICIAL  SELECTION  FOR  SCREENING  AT    2014  BEIJING  QUEER  FILM  FESTIVAL  

Film  Poster  –  ‘I  Am  Me’  

All   eight   short   videos   of   the   I   Am   Me   campaign   produced   by   Pink  Alliance   were   selected   for   screening   on   19-­‐21   September   at   the  prestigious  Beijing  Queer  Film  Festival  (http://www.bjqff.com/).    There  were   two   screenings   that   took   place   first   at   the  Netherlands   Embassy  and  Consulate   in  Beijing,  and   then  at  NYU  Shanghai   in  November.    The  events,   which   attracted   over   100   people,   were   covered   in   Gayspot  Magazine  and  Dan  Lan.      

The   I   AM   ME   video   advocacy   project,   coordinated   by   John   Erni   and  directed  by  Eric  Tsang,  aims  to  arouse  public  concern  about  the  bullying  of   school   students   because   of   their   sexual   orientation   and   gender  identity   through   the   use   of   individually   created   videos   to   inspire  confidence   and   provide   support   to   our   viewers.     It   is   also   expected   to  support   lesbian,   gay,   bisexual   and   transgender   (LGBT)   students   in  accepting   their   own   identities.     It   was   generously   supported   by   AD  Media,  FINS,  Mr.  Gay  HK,  and  Nomura.  

Since   the   launch   in  April   2013,   the  videos  have  been  shown   in  schools  and   universities   in   Hong   Kong.     The   screenings   and   discussions   have  attracted  a  combined  audience  of  over  1,000  students  and  teachers.      

One  of  the  videos  even  won  an  award  in  a  local  microfilm  festival.    Pink  Alliance   is  making  plans   to  produce  a  new  batch  of  I   Am  Me  videos   in  the   near   future.     All   of   the   videos   can   be   seen   here:  http://pinkalliance.hk/projects/iamme/  .  

WHAT  WE  ARE  ABOUT  TO  DO  

ADVOCACY  

Our   Advocacy   Group   will   be  contributing  a  submission  to  the  Hong   Kong   government   for   the  Chief  Executive’s  policy  address,  due  on  15   January  2015.     It  will  also  be  submitting  our  views  on  transgender  issues  to  the  IDWG.  

IDAHOT  

Our   Vice   Chairperson,   Joanne  Leung,   will   head   up   our  contribution   to   the   IDAHOT  commemoration   in   May   2015  and  will  be  calling  this  month  for  a   meeting   of   all   LGBTI   groups  interested  in  participating.  

PINK  DOT  

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

Planning  has  commenced  for  2015’s  Pink  Dot,  which  we  hope  will  again  be  a  collaboration  between  Big  Love  Alliance,  the  PA  and  other  groups.  Current  thinking  has   the  event  earmarked   for  April,  when  the  weather  will   still  be  cool.    Details  will  follow  as  soon  as  possible.  

COMMUNITY  BUSINESS  LGBT  WORKPLACE  INCLUSION  INDEX  

Our   ally,   NGO   Community  Business,   has   just   released  details  of  its  new  LGBT  business  index   (see   detail   at:  http://www.communitybusiness.org/hklgbtindex/).     Over   the  next   few   months,   we   shall   be  doing   what   we   can   to   support  the   launch   of   this   important  index,  which  will  open  up  to  the  world   Hong   Kong’s   current  commercial  practices,  good  and  bad,   and   will   help   foster   good  diversity   practices   across   a  growing   segment   of   Hong  Kong’s  business.    

 

THE  PINK  EXPERIENCE  

The   PA   has   launched   a   volunteer   training   programme   entitled   Pink  Experience  (PE).  Headed  by  Coordinator  Michael  Lee,  PE  will  aim  to  select  and   train   a   group   of   about   16   volunteers   over   the   age   of   18   every   year,  starting   in  February   and  March  2015   and   intended   to   provide  volunteers  for  the  ensuing  Pink  Dot.      The  programme  will  be  free  (though  we  shall  ask  for   a   HK$500   deposit   refundable   on   completion   of   the   training)   and  will  include   a   residential   weekend   at   Stanley   run   between   13   and   15   March,  video  training  21-­‐22  March  and  community  service  28-­‐29  March.    Selection  will  take  place  between  25  February  and  4  March.    The  volunteers  will  be  divided   into  about  4   groups,   each  with   a   leader  appointed  by   the  PA.  The  programme   will   be   bilingual.     If   you   would   like   to   join   the   programme  either   as   a   volunteer   or   Group   Leader,   please   contact   Michael   Lee   at:  michaelaiahk@gmail.com  

OUR  PEOPLE  

We  are  very  proud  that  Geoffrey  Yeung,  QSA’s  representative  to  the  PACC,  has  won  a  Rhodes  Scholarship  to  study  Human  Rights  at  Oxford  in  2015.    Congratulations,  Geoffrey!    

We  are  sad  to  announce  the  departure  from  the  PA  and  from  Hong  Kong  of  Dr  Sam  Winter,  who  for  many  years  has  been  Hong  Kong’s   leading  advocate  of   transgender  rights.    Sam  is  leaving  his  post  of  over  30  years  at  Hong  Kong  University  and  taking  up  a  new  post  in  the  School  of   Public   Health   in   the   Faculty   of   Health   Sciences   at Curtin  University   in  Perth,  Australia.  We  thank  him   for  all  he  has  done  for  the  community  and  wish  him  well  in  

 

We  have  a  new  Joint  Fund  Raising  Officer.  Philip  Howell-­‐Williams  has  joined  Eric  Herrera  in  this  role  to  solicit  your  money!  

 

WEBSITE  

Our  IT  Officer,  James  Oliver  has  revised  the  layout  and  content   of   the   PA’s   website.   Check   it   out   at  http://pinkalliance.hk/.   The   site   now   has   a   mass   of  information,   not   only   about   us,   but   also   about  many  aspects  of  Hong  Kong’s  LGBT  history  and  culture.    We  would  like  to  pay  tribute  here  to  our  summer  intern,  Jacky  Ng,  who  did  most   of   the  work   on   revising   this  content   and   has,   we   think,   done   a   first   class   job.  

We  rely  totally  on  voluntary  contributions  to  fund  us,  so  please  help  us  if  you  can.  If  you  would  like  to  contribute  funds,  please  make  a  direct  transfer  to  the  TCJM  bank  account:  

Name  of  Bank:  HSBC  

Account  Number:  112-­‐194386-­‐001  

Account  Name:  Tongzhi  Community  Joint  Meeting  

Please   email   our   Treasurer,   Barry   Lee,   at  donate@tcjm.org  with  your  name  (or  nickname),  date  of  transfer,  donated  amount   and   receipt  number.  We   shall   send  you  an  acknowledgement   as  soon  as  the  TCJM  account  is  updated.  

DONATIONS  

COMMENTS  

  We’d  welcome  feedback,  comments  and  suggestions.  You  can  email  Nigel  Collett,  Editor  and  English  Secretary  at    nigel.a.collett@tcjm.org  

All  of  us  in  the  Pink  Alliance  wish  all  of  you  and  your  loved  ones  a  very  happy  Christmas.  May  2015  be  a  year  in  which  we  can  all  make  a  difference