Hong Kong trans woman barred from marrying boyfriend
A trans woman in Hong Kong has been barred from marrying her boyfriend.
The woman, known only as ‘W’, was born male and transitioned several years ago. However, she is barred under city law from changing her birth certificate to female, meaning she has been unable to marry.
She began a legal fight but a court ruled against her today.
High court judge Andrew Cheung said there was insufficient evidence “to demonstrate a shifted societal consensus in present-day Hong Kong regarding marriage to encompass a post-operative transsexual”.
He added: “The court must not rush to substitute its own judgment in place of that of … the government or legislature in Hong Kong.”
Most of China allows trans people to marry once they have completed transition. However, the law is different in Hong Kong. Bizarrely, city law would allow W to marry a woman, as she would be recognised by the marriage registry as a man.
W’s lawyer, Mike Vidler, has said she will appeal.
