Gay Marriage | LGBT activists in Asia upbeat about impact of US court ruling

Filipino LGBTs (Lesbians Gays Bisexual and Transgenders) form the word “Pride” as they gather for a Gay Pride rally Saturday in Manila

Gay rights activists in Asia, where no country allows same-sex couples to legally marry, are upbeat about prospects for a change following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday giving same-sex couples the right to marry in all 50 states.
In the Philippines, in India, and elsewhere, gay rights advocates think the U.S. ruling may help change attitudes, just as American activists — and judges, educators and legislators — had earlier been influenced by the easy acceptance of same-sex marriage in some European countries, where the laws were changed smoothly without much fuss.
A look at some of the reactions and background on gay rights:
PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, activists seeking to win legal recognition for same-sex marriages believe the U.S. ruling will be useful, particularly since the country’s legal setup is largely based on the U.S. system, said Sylvia Estrada Claudio, a gender rights advocate and professor at the University of the Philippines.
“This ruling will have positive repercussions for our own movements here,” she said.
The Philippines’ civil code limits marriage to a union between a man and a woman — but the constitutionality of this proviso is being challenged by a lawyer, Jesus Nicardo Falcis III.
INDIA
The issue is different in India, where activists believe the U.S. ruling may make Indian judges and legislators feel uncomfortably isolated by the 2013 Indian Supreme Court decision to reinstate a colonial-­era law making homosexuality a crime.
The law calls homosexuality an “unnatural offense” punishable by 10 years in jail. In the past, police have used it to harass people and demand bribes from gays.
Ashok Row Kavi, head of the Humsafar Trust advocacy group, said the U.S. ruling may force India’s highest court to take a fresh look at the issue.
“In the light of globalization, the (Indian) Supreme Court judgment is being cited as a totally reactionary judgment,” he said. “A judgment that goes against the whole concept of human rights which had been on a progressive upsurge in India.”
SOUTH KOREA
South Koreans’ attitudes toward sexual minorities have been shaped by a patriarchal culture that emphasizes traditional values and the experience of military dictatorships that condemned homosexuality. Conservative Christianity, which was mainly imported from the U.S., is strong in the country and a powerful political lobby.
“Following the legalization of same-sex marriages in European countries, the decision in the U.S. strengthens the sense that this is the inevitable way of moving forward, and South Korean politicians will be required to express their thoughts on it,” said Han Ga-ram, an openly-gay human rights lawyer and activist.
HONG KONG
“It’s one step forward for the United States that leaves Hong Kong one further step behind,” said lawyer Michael Vidler.
Vidler is part of a legal team challenging a government decision to deny a dependent visa to a gay British woman so she can live with her partner in the socially conservative southern Chinese city. The pair formed a civil partnership in 2011 and moved to Hong Kong the same year after the woman’s partner landed a job. But the woman, identified only as QT, has been twice denied a dependent visa, leaving her unable to work.
The outcome of the case could have an impact on the city’s reputation as a global financial center and leading business hub. While the U.S. ruling won’t have any effect on legislation in the specially administered Hong Kong, “clearly it shows that the tide is turning, in fact has turned, and Hong Kong has been left behind,” said Vidler.
JAPAN
In Japan, homosexuality is not illegal, “but the atmosphere is such that most people feel homosexuals should not exist,” said Kazuyuki Minami, a lawyer in Osaka. “It’s tough. It’s hard to come out to families, friends and in the workplace.”
Minami held a marriage ceremony with his own partner, who is also a lawyer, in 2011.
Though Japan has some very popular transgender entertainment personalities, homosexuality is not widely accepted in its mainstream culture. Schools tend to foster specific male and female models for behavior.
CHINA
The news has quickly spread in China’s social media, where the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling rekindled public discussions on homosexuality and same-sex marriage in this traditionally conservative but largely atheist country.
Li Yinhe, a leading Chinese sexologist who has long urged Beijing to legalize same-sex marriage, said that the U.S. ruling could be exemplary for China and help sway the public opinion in favor of same-sex marriage in China.
“The Chinese people usually think that China is a poor country and the United States is rich, and that what America has achieved is our future goal,” she said.
“I think the ruling will have a big impact on China and may promote the legalization of same-sex marriage in China.”
THAILAND
In Thailand, one of the most tolerant countries in Asia for gays and a top tourist gay destination, there have been attempts by civil societies to introduce a bill that would extend the same rights to same-sex couples.
A draft of a new constitution under the military junta that took power in a coup last year contains a clause aimed at protecting the rights of gay and transgender people. The wording would make it illegal to discriminate according to gender.
“For Thailand, the momentum is already shifting. In the new constitution that is being drafted, gender is mentioned in a clause, guaranteeing the rights to everyone, regardless of their sexes. With this new example set by the U.S., we will surely move forward. But now, let’s celebrate with them. I’m very glad for them,” said gay rights activist Natee Teerarojjanapongs. AP