Current:Home > MarketsA US officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat -FutureProof Finance
A US officiant marries 10 same-sex couples in Hong Kong via video chat
View
Date:2025-04-15 03:19:16
HONG KONG (AP) — Ten same-sex couples got married in the United States over the internet from Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous southern Chinese city that does not formally recognize such unions but offers them legal protections.
The event Tuesday was timed to mark Pride Month, with a registered officiant from the American state of Utah making their marriages official. Most states require the couple to appear in person to fill out paperwork and present identification, but Utah does not, and its digital application process has made it a go-to for online weddings since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family members gathered in a hotel wedding hall in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district as couples exchanged rings, then raised their glasses in a toast.
“I hope one day that everybody would accept the fact that love is not just between a man and a woman. It’s between two people who love each other,” said Lucas Peng, a 66-year-old Singaporean businessperson living in Hong Kong, and one of the 20 people tying the knot in Tuesday’s semi-virtual event.
“It’s just two humans who love each other. That’s the key. That’s the important part. And to be able to publicly declare our love for each other today is a very important step for us, definitely,” Peng said.
Wedding organizer Kurt Tung said he hoped the event would send a message to the public.
“In Hong Kong, there’s not yet a way to go to a marriage registry to get married, but there’s still this way we can offer for them to realize their dreams of getting married,” Tung said.
Keeping with cultural and religious traditions, Hong Kong only recognizes weddings between a man and a woman. Self-governing Taiwan is the closest place that issues same-sex marriages, and Hong Kong recognizes those couples’ legal rights, though the city doesn’t call them marriages. It has no laws banning same-sex relationships.
In September, the Hong Kong’s top court ruled that the local government should provide a legal framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, including rights to inheritance, joint custody of children, taxation, spousal visas and benefits from employment with the local government.
That came after LGBTQ+ rights activist Jimmy Sham, who married his husband in New York in 2013, raised a challenge at the city’s Court of Final Appeal that Hong Kong’s laws violated the constitutional right to equality. That contrasts with the increasingly conservative political tone in the Asian financial hub, where edicts from the authoritarian Communist Party leadership in Beijing have led to criticism from around the world that it’s squashing democratic rights and free speech.
veryGood! (85479)
Related
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- JetBlue is cutting unprofitable routes and leaving 5 cities
- South Carolina to remove toxic waste from historic World War II aircraft carrier
- North Carolina county boards dismiss election protests from legislator. Recounts are next
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Little Caesars new Crazy Puffs menu item has the internet going crazy: 'Worth the hype'
- JetBlue is cutting unprofitable routes and leaving 5 cities
- Anticipation and anger on Texas border after Supreme Court lets strict immigration law take effect
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Longtime NHL tough guy and Stanley Cup champion Chris Simon dies at 52
Ranking
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Body found in western New York reservoir leads to boil-water advisory
- Unilever announces separation from ice cream brands Ben & Jerry's, Popsicle; 7,500 jobs to be cut
- The Viral COSRX Snail Mucin Essence is Cheaper Than it was on Black Friday; Get it Before it Sells Out
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- How many people got abortions in 2023? New report finds increase despite bans
- England is limiting gender transitions for youths. US legislators are watching
- Family sorting through father's Massachusetts attic found looted Japanese art: See photos
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Drake Bell calls out 'Ned's Declassified' stars for appearing to mock Nickelodeon abuse allegations
Mega Millions jackpot nears billion dollar mark, at $977 million
Rural Nevada county roiled by voting conspiracies picks new top elections official
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Gambia may become first nation to reverse female genital mutilation ban
Federal appeals court order puts controversial Texas immigration law back on hold
Battleship on the Delaware River: USS New Jersey traveling to Philadelphia for repairs