Over two days last week I was
extremely lucky, honoured and privileged to take part in the inaugural Asia-Pacific
Rainbow Families Forum held in Hong Kong.
They made sure that they made full
use of my talents! The forum was held
over two nights, the first with the showing of the Australian film Gayby Baby,
which is from the children’s perspective of growing up in gay and lesbian
households and then with the forum proper on the Friday.
I took part in three panel
discussions, one on the Thursday night and two, back to back on the
Friday.
Delegates attending came from Hong
Kong, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, Fiji, China and of course Australia. I was at last able to meet three Hong Kong
colleagues, a barrister Azan Marwah and fellow solicitors Winnie Chow and
Jonathan Mok. Azan Marwah is counsel at
the private bar in Hong Kong. Winnie Chow, Jonathan Mok and I are all Fellows
of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, the world’s leading group of
family lawyers.
It was good to see all three of
them there at the conference in support of this vital issue.
The conference dealt with the
barriers and opportunities that are presented to families of LGBTIQ people
across the Asia Pacific, including particular focuses on China, Japan, Fiji and
the Republic of Philippines.
It was an amazing event that was
put together with the assistance of the Australian Consulate and San Diego
Fertility Center amongst others by the extraordinary and inspiring fellow
Aussie but Hong Kong resident Bess Hepworth.
This was truly an inspiring event
that hopefully will lead to change to ensure that rainbow families across the
region are heard and are able to ensure above all that their children are
recognised and are safe and well.
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