Hot on the Web
'Let gay folks tie the knot'
By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-05 10:40
 |
Large Medium Small |
GUANGZHOU: Guangdong province's homosexuals on Wednesday night came out to voice support for a legislator's proposal to legalize same sex marriage, saying it would help eliminate social discrimination.
More than 100 gays, lesbians and experts attended the seminar.
Lawyer Zhu Lieyu, a deputy to the Guangdong provincial people's congress, submitted the proposal at the congress annual session, suggesting Guangdong should be the first province in the country to try out official registration of same-sex couples.
"Enabling homosexual couples to be officially registered will help stabilize their relations and protect their legal rights," Zhu said.
A homosexual, who preferred to be called Ah Feng, said: "I don't have the right to sign my name to give consent for my partner's surgery."
The 26-year-old gay man did not know how to handle his partner's illness if his health continues to worsen.
Li Yinghe, a sociologist, has also submitted proposals to legalize same-sex marriage to the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the county's top political advisory body, in past years.
The sociologist believed marriage between gays, which makes stable relations and safe sex possible, could help rein the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS.
All her proposals were shelved because she failed to get the minimum support of political consultative conference members.
Ah Qiang, a volunteer of a Guangzhou-based gay organization, said the seriousness of the relations between homosexuals has been long neglected by the society.
"It will be a big progress if homosexuals are granted rights to officially register their relationship," he said.
Ah Qiang said legalization of same-sex marriage, which will ensure their rights in many sectors, would help eliminate many problems.
Li Jing contributed to the story
