As Hong Kong’s top court has ordered the city’s government to set up a new framework to legally recognize the rights of same-sex couples, LGBTQ activists in the region are hopeful the decision could influence Asian financial hubs from Tokyo to Singapore to draft more inclusive laws as a drawcard for the diverse, global talent that multinational corporations from banks to technology giants are seeking to hire and retain.
“Corporates have a massive role to play. They still drive the conversation in a lot of these countries where the legislators aren’t,” said Janet Ledger, chief executive of Community Business, a non-profit that promotes diversity and inclusion in companies across Asia.
Only Taiwan and Nepal allow same-sex unions in Asia, where largely conservative values still dominate politics and society. Countries that have recently taken inclusive steps include India, where the Supreme Court is debating whether to allow same-sex marriage; South Korea, where lawmakers proposed a same-sex marriage bill in May; and Singapore, which last year scrapped a British colonial era law criminalizing sex between men.
Business groups in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan have become increasingly vocal in making the case that Asia’s leading economies must do more to encourage diversity.
In Japan, the only Group of Seven nation without legal protection for same-sex unions, corporations are seen as a key driver for change as Tokyo aims to increase its clout as a global financial center. LGBTQ people also face hurdles in largely conservative South Korea, which Human Rights Watch says lacks legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
While corporations rarely lobby Asian governments directly on LGBTQ rights, activists say they show their support through sponsorship of events and pride-themed marketing.
Inclusivity means making everyone feel safe and accepted, and when it comes to attracting world-class talent, countries that fail to be inclusive are automatically alienating a significant portion of that talent, who would rather live and work where they are not discriminated. Most successful global corporations, where bottom lines are affected more by the talent rather than sexual orientation or gender identity, have made inclusivity part of their culture and the way they do business. Perhaps it is time governments across the region take note and follow their lead.*
