Pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho said on Tuesday that he does not discriminate against sexual minorities, but they can’t be encouraged in case “natural people” are sidelined.
His comments follow an apparent rebuke from Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who blasted lawmakers for their “divisive” comments about next year’s Gay Games, which are due to be held in Hong Kong.
During a discussion in the Legislative Council last week, Ho said the event will bring “dirty money” to the city, while Holden Chow from the DAB party warned that the games could affect social stability.
Without naming any names, Lam said at her pre-Exco meeting press briefing on Tuesday that she could not condone the “regrettable” remarks of lawmakers who had become “a bit emotional”.
Asked about the CE’s response to the saga, Ho denied he had been emotional and said his attitude had not changed.
“My attitude has always been founded on a good basis. I do what I believe. I haven’t changed my attitude a bit…I stated my position quite clear,” he said.
Ho added that Hong Kong cannot let sexual minorities sideline the heterosexual majority.
“They are called ‘sexual minorities’, they are just a small part of the population. We respect them, but we can’t encourage them. We don’t discriminate against them, but that doesn’t mean such trends should be supported or encouraged,” he said.
The lawmaker said “natural people” reject those of the same sex, adding “we have to make clear one thing, we shouldn’t sideline the mainstream.”