今日下午2時「香港同志集會」十周年,在中環愛丁堡廣場舉行,是首次由遊行改為集會。有數百人參加。
今年是香港同志遊行舉辦十周年,但卻由遊行變集會,已經出櫃的立法會議員陳志全直言失望,反問是否警方以後都不會發出不反對通知書呢。他說「參與的朋友有考慮,因為即使有不反對通知書的集會,會隨時被腰斬,隨時放催淚彈。」他不擔心集會被「騎劫」,歡迎任何爭取人權平等的人參加。
多個國家的駐港總領事或代表,包括美國、歐盟、荷蘭、愛爾蘭、瑞典、加拿大、新西蘭、德國的代表上台發言,表示一直在本國平權活動,因此支持香港的同志遊行和活動。美國駐香港總領事史墨客(Hanscom Smith)發言時,表示美國視與LGBT相關的法律是基本人權,希望香港亦可以保障相關權利。史墨客發言期間,有參與者高叫「為自由抗爭、與香港並肩」(Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong)的口號。
At 2 pm today, the “Hong Kong Pride Rally” was held at the Edinburgh Place in Central. It was the first time that the parade was changed to a rally. Hundreds of people participated.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong pride parade, but it was changed to a rally. Openly-gay legislator Ray Chan, expressed disappointment and asked if the police would not issue a letter of no objection to marches in the future. He said that “participatants have concerns, because even if a rally obtained a letter of no objection, the police might cancel at any time and fires tear gas rounds.” He does not worry that the rally will be hijacked and welcomes anyone who strives for equal rights to participate.
Representatives of various consulates in Hong Kong, including the United States, European Union, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany, took the stage to speak in support. Hanscom Smith, US Consul General in Hong Kong, said that the United States regards LGBT-related laws as basic human rights and hopes that Hong Kong can also protect related rights. While he is speakung, some participants chanted “Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong”.
!doctype>