Hong Kong trans man wins challenge against public toilet law
The case was brought by a transgender man, known as "K", who was encouraged by doctors to use men's public bathrooms as part of his gender dysphoria treatment.
K's Hong Kong ID card still identified him as female, which meant he could be fined up to HK$2,000 ($255) under existing rules.
He argued that this breached his rights to equality, privacy, and to be free from discrimination.
High Court judge Russell Coleman agreed and struck down two provisions in the city's regulations, giving the government a year to make the change.
Transgender activists in the financial hub have notched several wins over the past decade in Hong Kong courts, which are separate from those in mainland China.
The city's top court decided in 2023 that it was unconstitutional for the government to require a person to complete full gender-affirming surgery before the "sex entry" on their ID card could be changed.
This decision meant the government had largely conceded its case in the public toilets legal battle, Coleman wrote on Wednesday.
K did not challenge the constitutionality of sex-segregated public toilets.
He was undergoing hormone treatment pending surgery when he launched the legal challenge.
His treatment required that he undergo "real life experience" including using public toilets that match his identified gender, according to the ruling.
"Many trans people choose not to use public conveniences at all, due to fear, the threat of harassment, and to avoid having their gender identity invalidated or undermined," Coleman wrote.
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CNA
a few seconds ago
- CNA
Commentary: Trump's call didn't stop the fighting in Thailand and Cambodia. Can Malaysia do better?
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A WINDOW FOR ASEAN Speculation on the origins of the conflict ranges from bad blood over business and economic interests – from casinos to scam centres – to personal falling out between the Hun and Shinawatra families; to domestic agendas to prop up wobbly political parties and mandates; and even superpower rivalry between the US, an ally of Thailand, and China which has significant economic interests in Cambodia. Premier Hun Manet's father Hun Sen – now President of the country's Senate and viewed as the de facto leader of Cambodia – may indeed feel he has greater strategic space with China's backing, given China's interests in Cambodia. But while there may be some element of truth in that, it risks falling into the trap of seeing the conflict through an American, China-centric prism. China took pains last week to say the weaponry Cambodia was using was old stock supplied not recently but previously by Beijing. In fact, any definitive explanation without real evidence is suspect; the origins of the conflict remain opaque and likely only really known to a relatively small circle of power elites in both capitals. Regardless, neither country wants to be seen domestically to bending to external pressure. This offers a thus far ineffective ASEAN response new traction. Conversely, the opportunity puts pressure on Mr Anwar, who may be seen as somewhat compromised by his decision earlier this year to appoint former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser – even if one of several – to the ASEAN chair he holds. Thus while the meeting offers hope, underlying complexities should not be underestimated. The proximate and historical causes of the conflict may be many, and significantly intertwined, but what is evident and indisputable is that what tipped a volatile situation over the edge was a falling out between old friends Mr Hun Sen and Mr Thaksin. The latter's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra – who became prime minister only last August – has been suspended pending an ethics investigation over her leaked phone call with Mr Hun Sen, throwing Thailand's civilian coalition government into some disarray and giving its military an opportunity to wave its nationalist credentials. 'Failure to secure a meaningful and lasting ceasefire could severely damage ASEAN's credibility as a regional problem-solver, especially given past criticisms of its effectiveness in other regional crises,' Professor Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University's Centre for Southeast Asian Studies told me. THE LIMITS OF MEDIATION The meeting signals a step towards de-escalation, but it doesn't magically resolve the deep-seated territorial disputes, nationalistic sentiments and historical grievances that fuelled this conflict, Professor Pavin added. 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Business Times
25 minutes ago
- Business Times
Asia: Most markets rise, euro boosted after EU strikes US trade deal
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
China opposes Czech president's visit to Dalai Lama
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