BANGKOK: In a landmark ruling that has activists across Asia excited for the future of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, a transgender woman and her boyfriend have been granted permission by a Hong Kong court to get married in the first ruling of its kind in East Asia. The surprise decision only covers the right of a transgender person who was born male to marry a man, and for one who was born female to marry a woman. The ruling by the Court of Final Appeal brings the semiautonomous Chinese city in line with many other places in the Asia-Pacific region, including mainland China, where transgender people are allowed to marry as their new gender. The court ruled in favour of the woman, identified only as W. One of the judges on the five-member panel dissented. W's lawyer, Michael Vidler, said his client was "overjoyed." W, who is in her 30s, was born a man but had surgery in 2008 to become a woman. The hospital issued a letter certifying her new gender. Vidler read a statement by W to reporters in which she said that after the surgery she has lived her life "as a woman and been treated as a woman in all respects except as regards my right to marriage. This decision rights that wrong." In a conference call later with reporters, W said, "I'm very glad that I can finally get married to my beloved boyfriend in Hong Kong." She added that she hopes the ruling will have a positive influence how sexual minorities are seen in Hong Kong, where many hold conservative views. Vidler said the ruling won't take effect for 12 months, giving the government time to change marriage laws. One gay activist in Thailand told Bikyanews.com that she is "overwhelmed" with the "joy that this is bringing to our community." For her, and many others, fighting for LGBT rights in Asia has long been an uphill battle against social norms and governments who continue to push back against equality. "For the first time, Asian gay activists of all kind can now have something concrete and positive to deal with," she said. BN
