From: Felix of Southeast Asia . . . Visiting Hong Kong
To: Stephen Parelli <sparelli2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, September 28, 2009
Subject: Hong Kong Rainbow Center Faces Closure
Dear Steve,
It's sad to learn that the Rainbow Center in Hong Kong, home to so many LGBT groups, is
facing closure for lack of funds. I don't understand why the HK government does not support
such a worthy cause. It appears to have a homophobic policy. The center needs to be funded
as it is an NPO. I hope someone would be moved to donate to their cause. See the article
below for details.
Peace
Felix of Southeast Asia
Hong Kong at risk of losing its only gay community
centre
by Sylvia Tan 28 Sep 2009
http://www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/2009/09/28/9007.hong-kong-at-risk-of-losing-its-only-gay-
community-centre?n=sec
Rainbow of Hong Kong, the only LGBT-community centre in the territory, faces an uncertain
future due to lack of funding and is appealing to the community for donations to keep it going.
Rainbow of Hong Kong, a LGBT-community centre located at the busy junction of Nathan and
Jordan Roads in Kowloon, is finding itself in a precarious situation and is at risk of having to
shut down if its hope to raise additional funds doesn’t materialise.
The drop-in centre located at Flat D, 7/F, National Court, 242 Nathan Road. Tel: (852) 2769
1069. Bottom pic: Co-founder Kenneth Cheung is one of Hong Kong's most prominent gay and
HIV activists, and the only openly gay candidate to stand for public office (twice). Read more in
From personal trauma to activism: Kenneth Cheung Kam-hung.
In a statement appealing for funds, co-founder of the centre Kenneth Cheung Kam-hung, who’
s known to many by his nickname Ken-jai (Ken仔), said the organisation had been
unsuccessful in its applications for grants from various agencies and had not received any
funding from government sources since May 2009.
Since then, the centre has stayed open with donations from supporters but may not be
sufficient in the long-term. The rent is about HK$11,000 (US$1,420) a month and the centre
does not have any staffing costs as its committee members, Wai Wai, Timothy, Tommy and
Ken volunteer their time to run the centre.
“We perceive the approach of a difficult and cold winter through which we are striving to keep
this LGBTQ Community Centre open, not allowing it to close again.” Ken said.
The group launched its first centre in Mongkok in 2000 with grants from the Equal
Opportunities Commission and AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) but was shut down after a year due to
lack of funding.
In 2007, the centre was given a second lease of life with funds from the AFT to cover one year’
s HIV prevention work with MSM, though not for HIV testing or counselling, Ken told Fridae in
an interview published in June.
In addition to being a drop-in centre that attracts about 200 visitors every week, the space is
used by LGBT groups including the Women's Coalition of HKSAR, Hong Kong AIDS
Foundation, Unitarian Universalists Hong Kong and CD (Cross Dressing) Family, and the
organising committees of International Day Against Homophobia HK Parade and Hong Kong
Pride. (The second pride parade will be held Nov 1, 2009 .)
The centre also provides AIDS education programs and HIV blood testing service on
Saturdays.
If you would like to make a donation, you can do so via one of the following channels:
- Mail a local cheque (issued by a Hong Kong bank) to Rainbow of Hong Kong, Mongkok P.O.
Box 78882, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Cash deposit / transfer to their bank account [Hang Seng Bank, Account no: 356-142059-
001, Account name: Rainbow of Hong Kong]
- Make a transfer via PayPal [Cheung Kam Hung (info@rainbowhk.org) "Rainbow of Hong
Kong"]
Rainbow of Hong Kong requests that donors mail the receipt to the centre with your name and
contact information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken and Tommy were recently interviewed by JOY 94.9, Australia's only gay and lesbian radio
station about the Rainbow Centre and Ken's HIV+ status.
Title: Orange Ribbon - 23rd September, 2009
Author: JOY 94.9
Subtitle: Two radical gay activists in Hong Kong , and the Hong Kong Rainbow Centre
Summary: Ken jai and Tommy jai are two somewhat radical, yet committed and caring gay
activists in Hong Kong , and the co-founders of Rainbow Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong
Rainbow Centre. Ken is well-known for his radical activities in conservative Hong Kong , arising
as a result of discovering he was HIV+ in 1995 while he was still in secondary school. Tommy is
also not publicity-shy and has taken some radical actions that many of us in the West would
not even be prepared to do. He became famous for his ‘Rainbow Actions’ in the Roman
Catholic Cathedral, and for chaining himself to the Hong Kong Central Police Station. Here are
two radical gay activists, yet who are also very genuine, committed, and deeply caring young
Chinese men who just want to make for a better place for gays & lesbians in Hong Kong .
Duration: 39:46
Related Links
To: Stephen Parelli <sparelli2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, September 28, 2009
Subject: Hong Kong Rainbow Center Faces Closure
Dear Steve,
It's sad to learn that the Rainbow Center in Hong Kong, home to so many LGBT groups, is
facing closure for lack of funds. I don't understand why the HK government does not support
such a worthy cause. It appears to have a homophobic policy. The center needs to be funded
as it is an NPO. I hope someone would be moved to donate to their cause. See the article
below for details.
Peace
Felix of Southeast Asia
Hong Kong at risk of losing its only gay community
centre
by Sylvia Tan 28 Sep 2009
http://www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/2009/09/28/9007.hong-kong-at-risk-of-losing-its-only-gay-
community-centre?n=sec
Rainbow of Hong Kong, the only LGBT-community centre in the territory, faces an uncertain
future due to lack of funding and is appealing to the community for donations to keep it going.
Rainbow of Hong Kong, a LGBT-community centre located at the busy junction of Nathan and
Jordan Roads in Kowloon, is finding itself in a precarious situation and is at risk of having to
shut down if its hope to raise additional funds doesn’t materialise.
The drop-in centre located at Flat D, 7/F, National Court, 242 Nathan Road. Tel: (852) 2769
1069. Bottom pic: Co-founder Kenneth Cheung is one of Hong Kong's most prominent gay and
HIV activists, and the only openly gay candidate to stand for public office (twice). Read more in
From personal trauma to activism: Kenneth Cheung Kam-hung.
In a statement appealing for funds, co-founder of the centre Kenneth Cheung Kam-hung, who’
s known to many by his nickname Ken-jai (Ken仔), said the organisation had been
unsuccessful in its applications for grants from various agencies and had not received any
funding from government sources since May 2009.
Since then, the centre has stayed open with donations from supporters but may not be
sufficient in the long-term. The rent is about HK$11,000 (US$1,420) a month and the centre
does not have any staffing costs as its committee members, Wai Wai, Timothy, Tommy and
Ken volunteer their time to run the centre.
“We perceive the approach of a difficult and cold winter through which we are striving to keep
this LGBTQ Community Centre open, not allowing it to close again.” Ken said.
The group launched its first centre in Mongkok in 2000 with grants from the Equal
Opportunities Commission and AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) but was shut down after a year due to
lack of funding.
In 2007, the centre was given a second lease of life with funds from the AFT to cover one year’
s HIV prevention work with MSM, though not for HIV testing or counselling, Ken told Fridae in
an interview published in June.
In addition to being a drop-in centre that attracts about 200 visitors every week, the space is
used by LGBT groups including the Women's Coalition of HKSAR, Hong Kong AIDS
Foundation, Unitarian Universalists Hong Kong and CD (Cross Dressing) Family, and the
organising committees of International Day Against Homophobia HK Parade and Hong Kong
Pride. (The second pride parade will be held Nov 1, 2009 .)
The centre also provides AIDS education programs and HIV blood testing service on
Saturdays.
If you would like to make a donation, you can do so via one of the following channels:
- Mail a local cheque (issued by a Hong Kong bank) to Rainbow of Hong Kong, Mongkok P.O.
Box 78882, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Cash deposit / transfer to their bank account [Hang Seng Bank, Account no: 356-142059-
001, Account name: Rainbow of Hong Kong]
- Make a transfer via PayPal [Cheung Kam Hung (info@rainbowhk.org) "Rainbow of Hong
Kong"]
Rainbow of Hong Kong requests that donors mail the receipt to the centre with your name and
contact information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken and Tommy were recently interviewed by JOY 94.9, Australia's only gay and lesbian radio
station about the Rainbow Centre and Ken's HIV+ status.
Title: Orange Ribbon - 23rd September, 2009
Author: JOY 94.9
Subtitle: Two radical gay activists in Hong Kong , and the Hong Kong Rainbow Centre
Summary: Ken jai and Tommy jai are two somewhat radical, yet committed and caring gay
activists in Hong Kong , and the co-founders of Rainbow Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong
Rainbow Centre. Ken is well-known for his radical activities in conservative Hong Kong , arising
as a result of discovering he was HIV+ in 1995 while he was still in secondary school. Tommy is
also not publicity-shy and has taken some radical actions that many of us in the West would
not even be prepared to do. He became famous for his ‘Rainbow Actions’ in the Roman
Catholic Cathedral, and for chaining himself to the Hong Kong Central Police Station. Here are
two radical gay activists, yet who are also very genuine, committed, and deeply caring young
Chinese men who just want to make for a better place for gays & lesbians in Hong Kong .
Duration: 39:46
Related Links
From: Felix of Southeast Asia . . .
Visiting Hong Kong
To: Stephen Parelli
<sparelli2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010
Subject: Re: Hong Kong Rainbow
Center Faces Closure
Dear Steve
Rainbow Center HK is still open. I have
been there recently. There are a few
young people managing the place.
They have some sharing sessions at
weekends. I attended one in which
they took turns sharing how they came
out to their parents and how their
parents reacted. Some fathers threw
their teenaged sons out when they
found out. The center offers a reading
room and board games and they
mostly play mahjong there. Anyone
who got kicked out of home can also
sleep over there with mattresses. So
it's like a home for young gays who
have nowhere to go. They become
activists too. But they are not sure if
they can keep the place going
because of high rental. Let's hope they
will be able to keep the place. As far as
I know, they are collecting funds but
not sure if anyone has made any large
contributions.
Thanks for your concern anyway,
Steve. Those kids really need some
financial help.
Peace,
Felix
Visiting Hong Kong
To: Stephen Parelli
<sparelli2002@yahoo.com>
Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010
Subject: Re: Hong Kong Rainbow
Center Faces Closure
Dear Steve
Rainbow Center HK is still open. I have
been there recently. There are a few
young people managing the place.
They have some sharing sessions at
weekends. I attended one in which
they took turns sharing how they came
out to their parents and how their
parents reacted. Some fathers threw
their teenaged sons out when they
found out. The center offers a reading
room and board games and they
mostly play mahjong there. Anyone
who got kicked out of home can also
sleep over there with mattresses. So
it's like a home for young gays who
have nowhere to go. They become
activists too. But they are not sure if
they can keep the place going
because of high rental. Let's hope they
will be able to keep the place. As far as
I know, they are collecting funds but
not sure if anyone has made any large
contributions.
Thanks for your concern anyway,
Steve. Those kids really need some
financial help.
Peace,
Felix
Rainbow Center
HK is still open,
January 2010
HK is still open,
January 2010
| Hong Kong at risk of losing its only gay community centre September 2009 |
| This webpage was built the week of January 3, 2010, in the Bronx, NY, and was published January 8, 2010. Visitors to this page since January 8, 2010. |
| This is an Other Sheep webpage |
| You can email Felix of Southeast Asia at othersheepfelix@yahoo.com |
| Photo by Steve Parelli |
 |
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