Violence in the Rainbow Community is Neglected
*All of the names have been changed for safety reason
**Full name has been used under interviewee's request for not using any honorific
While the pandemic is considered as a public health crisis, domestic violence has also become a major social problem. But it does not only happens to women in a heterosexual relationship.
As the pandemic begins, *Emily and her girlfriend decided to start moving in together to a hotel room. They thought they could spend more quality time together without having to worry about taking risks to be infected.
But the ruptured reality is that *Emily was locked up in the hotel room. Just her and her girlfriend, in the same room, twenty-four-seven. They need not worry about the groceries and meals, everything will be delivered right to their door with just a click on delivery platforms and the landline for room services.
Even though Hong Kong has come a long way and the high court has finally ruled that same-sex couples could apply for public housing last March, LGBTQ+ couples may still face more legal challenges than heterosexual couples. While all of the challenges they have to go through might have kept the LGBTQ+ couples treasure each other more, it is actually a double-edged sword.
**Joe Li, the President and founder of Les Corner, said these obstacles have also made them holding on to their current partner harder than ever. Considering that looking for another partner will be a tough row to hoe, they would rather bear with their partner’s violent actions than voicing out or even ending the relationship.
*Emily was not allowed to contact anyone else, except their common friends. She could not reach out to anyone for help.
“With everything going on for *Emily, it is almost impossible to know what happened inside their hotel room,” said **Joe Li.
*Emily was one of the lucky ones since one of their common friends noticed and assisted her to reach out to Les Corner. In the end, *Emily’s family, who gratefully accepted for who she is, stepped in and set her free from the hotel room.
Compared to heterosexual couples, **Joe Li believes that homosexual couples will find it harder to reach out for help, given that some of those, who have not come out yet, might feel inferior for the situation they are in.
While some of the victims worried that they have to reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity when they reach out for help, some of the abusers might even take advantage of their partner’s fear of coming out to threaten them.
“Many LGBTQ+ people working as ethical professionals, for example, teachers and social workers, do not dare to come out. Since many still have the concept that if a teacher is ‘gay’, they will teach their students to be ‘gay’,” said **Joe Li, “but that’s just not how this works!”
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If you’re experiencing domestic violence or are concerned about someone you know, help for the LGBTQ+ community is available from the following organisations and services.
2321 1103
Les Corner Empowerment Association
5281 5201
2769 1069
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals CEASE Crisis Centre
18281
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Pride Line
2217 5959
