Letters | Same-sex marriage: Thailand joins others in showing Hong Kong there is nothing to fear

Readers discuss the divisive rhetoric used to counter arguments for marriage equality, the unspoken reason for West Kowloon Cultural District’s fiscal deficit and a missed opportunity to support student health

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Participants of a Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 4 hold a rainbow flag. Thailand will soon join the ranks of countries and regions who have made same-sex marriage legal. Photo: AP

Published: 11:30am, 29 Nov 2023

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Thailand is poised to become the next Asian country to recognise same-sex marriages after the Thai cabinet approved a marriage equality bill that is expected to be debated in parliament next month.

Thirty-five countries and regions around the world currently recognise same-sex marriages. In each of these places, the sky hasn’t fallen – in fact, traditions continue to flourish and the institution of marriage remains strong.

In Hong Kong, the government is legally required to come up with a framework for the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships within two years. Unfortunately, some people are peddling fear and making outrageous comments about the Court of Final Appeal judgment in the Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit case.

At its core, the judgment proclaimed that same-sex couples deserved to live a dignified life and their relationships should be legally recognised and protected. After all, the issue at stake is human dignity and respect.

Naysayers allege that marriage equality would tear society apart. If this was true, we would have seen it happen in those places where same-sex marriage is legal.