How a billion-dollar dowry led Gigi Chao to fight for everyone’s right to wed and why marriage equality in Hong Kong could finally be within reach

It was 2012 when Cecil Chao made that offer; since then, there has been greater acceptance of non-heterosexual couples in Hong Kong, with several significant milestones. In 2018, the QT Spousal Visa case ruled that denying dependent visas to same-sex spouses was discriminatory. The following year, the Court of Final Appeal ruled in favour of Angus Leung, a gay civil servant who had married his husband in New Zealand, affirming that the government must extend spousal benefits and joint tax assessment to same-sex couples.

That same year, Chao founded Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advocating for full legal recognition of non-heterosexual marriages in Hong Kong. “Marriage equality is urgent and important because it actually saves lives. To be able to participate in the traditions of your family and to have the blessings of previous generations is important to the dignity of the individual and for one’s mental health,” says Chao. “When there’s uncertainty, when there are things hanging in the air and they don’t clear, it’s a huge burden on mental health. To give hope and dignity to that diversity that is human beings—marriage equality saves lives and it’s crucial to society moving forward.”

In 2023, another breakthrough came: the Court of Final Appeal ruled that denying equal inheritance rights to same-sex couples was unconstitutional—a decision upheld in November 2024. “We really look forward to the government codifying the rights [outlined in these judgments] into a clearer structure so that non-heterosexual couples have clarity and can better plan their lives,” says Chao.

See also: Gigi Chao on learning from the younger generation, making business fun and cutting through the noise

Yet the one big milestone for which Chao’s organisation was founded remains unmet. “We want full marriage equality,” she says. “We want full equality between heterosexual couples and non-heterosexual couples ... And I think we are slowly getting there,” she says, referencing Thailand’s passing of its marriage equality bill in June 2024, which came into effect in January this year. “We want to see that available to people in Hong Kong—instead of [them] having to fly to Thailand—and reflected in the laws in Hong Kong. “That’s been the sole and only aim of Hong Kong Marriage Equality.”

It may have been a long road, but Chao is positive, and says she believes that 2025 “will be a major year for the whole of the LGBTQ+ community”.

“I think anything important [or] worth doing in life is never easy and never straightforward. It takes the effort of everyone involved and it takes time, especially when you’re talking about an institution as important as marriage,” she says. “I’m optimistic but at the same time I’m cautious of the fact that there are multiple opinions across the board. [It’s about] how we provide channels of communication so that everyone understands that this is for the greater good.”

Most recently, Chao has been working to make marriage as it currently stands more inclusive. Weddings, and particularly Chinese ones, are full of traditions, many of which are centred around heteronormative assumptions. One tradition sees the bride presented with gold jewellery, usually by the groom’s family, that includes a pair of bangles featuring a dragon and a phoenix—where the former represents the groom and the latter the bride—symbolising prosperity and good wishes, with the two powerful forces reflective of the union.

“Traditional dragon and phoenix bracelets are designed with one dragon and one phoenix. While the symbolism is beautiful, it fails to address the needs of diverse gender groups,” says Chao, whose Hong Kong Marriage Equality partnered with Hong Kong jewellery brand Playback Concept to introduce Proud Pair, bangles that incorporate traditional motifs in a Double Dragon or Double Phoenix set, allowing elder relatives to express their support and blessings for non-traditional marriages. “Through the Proud Pair, we hope to redefine the meaning of dragon and phoenix bracelets, making them a testament to all types of love and promoting marriage equality.”

For Gigi Chao, whose days are split between helming the family business and her advocacy work, the fight for marriage equality remains core. “One’s hope for the future is important. And that’s what marriage equality stands for and that’s what we should fight for—for our youth and for the next generation.”

Front & Female Changemakers celebrates the extraordinary journeys of inspiring women who have emerged as powerful changemakers in a range of fields, offering a glimpse into their lives and showcasing their courage, vision and relentless pursuit of change and progress. From social entrepreneurs and business leaders to educators, artists, activists and scientists, Front & Female changemakers exemplify the ability to challenge the status quo and demonstrate the power of women to effect change.

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