Joanne Leung

Joanne Leung Wing-yan (born Donne)[1] is the first publicized transsexual woman in Hong Kong. Born with a male body, she underwent sex-reassignment surgery in 2009 to become a woman. She became the founder and chairperson of Pink Alliance[2][1] and Transgender Resource Centre (TGR),[3][4] two active non-governmental organizations that aim to service the LGBT community and promote LGBT cultures. Leung identifies as a lesbian.[5]

Biography

Leung states that she knew she should physically be a girl by the time she was six.[1] As a child, she didn't know how to deal with bullies and kept her feelings to herself.[6] Hiding her transgender identity led to four attempted suicides.[1] In 2004, she consulted a sex clinic to find about sex reassignment surgery.[1] In 2009, she finally underwent the operation.[7]

After surgery, she started to think about supporting the transgender community.[5] Leung would like for society in Hong Kong to learn more about transsexual and transgender individuals.[8] Leung has been fighting hard yet for LGTB rights in the territory. She wants to ensure that other transgender people do not have to go through what she endured since there is only little information available for them.[9] She helped set up the Transgender Resource Centre (TGR) which helps support transgender individuals and provides education about transgender issues.[10] Leung works with TGR on a full-time basis.[1]

In 2014, Leung received her degree in computing from the University of Greenwich.[1] Also in 2014, she spoke to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and was the first transgender person from Hong Kong to do so.[11] She was also openly vocal in her opposition to an amendment to the Marriage Ordinance which would require transgender individuals to have sex reassignment surgery before they could marry.[12] In 2015, Leung joined the Democratic Party in Hong Kong in order to inform the party's stance on LGBT issues.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Evans, Annemarie (13 October 2013). "Joanne Leung raises transgender awareness". South China Morning Post. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Pink Alliance 粉紅同盟 | TCJM 同志社區聯席會議". pinkalliance.hk. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  3. ↑ "跨性別資源中心 Transgender Resource Center". www.tgr.org.hk. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  4. ↑ Leach, Anna (8 May 2013). "Trans Visibility Campaign Launched in China". Gay Star News. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 Tsoi, Grace. "Joanne Leung". HK Magazine. HK Magazine. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Yu, Derek (26 April 2013). "Hong Kong LGBT Activists Fight School Bullying With Video Series". Gay Star News. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  7. 1 2 Lam, Jeffie (7 December 2015). "Hong Kong LGBT Activist Joins Democratic Party in Bid to Influence its Stance on Gender Issues". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Up close with Joanne Leung Wing-yan, a transsexual" (Gender). South China Morning Post. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Liang, Siran. "The Ongoing Lonely Journey of Joanne Leung—Six Years after Sex-Reassignment Surgery". Word Press. Word Press. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Tam, Arthur (9 May 2012). "Transgenders: More Than Meets the Eye". Time Out Hong Kong.
  11. ↑ "Transgenders 'Should Not Have to Undergo Sex Change Before Getting Married in Hong Kong'". South China Morning Post. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  12. ↑ Ngo, Jennifer; Yeung, Linda (23 April 2014). "Conservative Christians and Gay-Rights Activists Unite to Condemn Transgender Marriage Bill". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 21 May 2016.

External links

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