Sexual orientation and gender identity and school life in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan international city with a mix of Western and Chinese traditions. Previously a British colony, it is currently under the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Over seven million people live in the city. Approximately 92% of Hong Kong residents are ethnic Chinese. Intolerant and prejudiced attitudes against sexually and gender-expansive communities have become a regional and global concern. These attitudes have been researched widely in North American and European cities for over 20 years but have only recently received attention from Hong Kong Chinese society. The impact of the combined influences of Christianity and Confucianism on the manifestation of sexual prejudice and transprejudice toward sexual and gender-minority students is pertinent in this Chinese society, where professional training for educators and inclusive education for sexual- and gender-minority students are almost nonexistent. Sexual- and gender-minority students need support for the expression of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that SOGI minority students will be supported in an educational context of affirmative practice and rights-based sexuality education in Hong Kong where gender recognition acts and antidiscrimination ordinances have not been legislated. Based on this unique social-cultural context, this chapter highlights the prejudices experienced by SOGI minority students in Hong Kong’s educational context, based on a synthesis of curriculum discussion, research studies, and local media publications. Recommendations are made for facilitating an inclusive educational environment for sexual- and gender-minority students. Copyright © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Makiko Kasai, Yuichi Toda and Stephen Russell; individual chapters, the contributors.