Hong Kong Lawmakers Reject Same-Sex Rights Bill, Sparking Outcry

Mon Oct 20 2025 20:50:56 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant setback for LGBTQ rights, Hong Kong's Legislative Council has voted against a proposed bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples, following a controversial court ruling.

Hong Kong legislators have overwhelmingly rejected a bill aimed at recognizing limited rights for same-sex couples. This decision comes in the wake of a recent court ruling that sought to address the legal recognition deficits faced by the LGBTQ community in the city. The government's proposal, initially supported by the chief executive, aimed to create a registration system for same-sex couples with overseas marriages, but was met with strong opposition from both lawmakers and activists.

Lawmakers in Hong Kong have rejected a controversial bill that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples, in a blow to the city's gay rights movement.

The law, which would have recognised some rights for couples who were married overseas, was opposed by 71 of the city's 89-member Legislative Council (LegCo).

It was proposed by the government to comply with a 2023 court ruling, following the rejection of an attempt to legalise same-sex marriage.

While the city has in recent years been perceived as becoming gay-friendly, it has limited rights for the estimated 6% of the adult population who identify as LGBTQ. Recent polls suggest there is rising support towards the community.

Human rights group Amnesty International criticised the rejection of the bill, saying that it showed an 'alarming disdain' for LGBTQ rights, and urged Hong Kong authorities to introduce a new and revised bill.

Hong Kong LGBTQ rights activist Jimmy Sham said it was 'deeply regrettable' that the bill did not pass and that the government's inability to protect same-sex couples rights 'would remain an open wound'.

The bill stemmed from a long-running legal challenge to legalise same-sex marriage initiated by Sham, who had wanted official recognition of his marriage to his husband. The pair were married in New York in 2013.

The Hong Kong's top court shot this down in 2023, but in a partial victory for activists, the Court of Final Appeal said at the time that the Hong Kong government had to formulate an alternative framework within two years to recognise unions between members of the same sex.

This year's bill was an attempt by the Hong Kong government to fulfil this legal obligation.

The bill proposed a registration system for same-sex couples who were married or had civil unions overseas, granting rights including hospital visits and medical decisions for a spouse. The city's chief executive John Lee had backed the bill, warning that a rejection would violate Hong Kong's rule of law and bring about 'serious consequences'.

However, the bill faced criticism from LGBTQ activists for being insufficient and from LegCo members who argued it undermined traditional family values and could pave the way for legalising same-sex marriage.

The rejection signifies a divide between the legislature and the government, particularly as the two have been closely aligned in recent years under increasing Beijing influence.

Despite the setback, public opinion appears to be shifting, with a 2023 survey indicating that 60% support same-sex marriage, reflecting a growing acceptance following the territory's hosting of the Gay Games.