Impact
Research
That Changes
Minds And Lives.
That is the kind of research that the Sexualities Research Programme undertakes.
Central to the mission of the Sexualities Research Programme is the idea that our research should have an impact beyond academia. The Programme’s work aims for the highest intellectual quality, but it does not end there; we work with law and policy makers, service providers, business and legal sectors, the non-governmental sector, and others to address the implications of gender and sexual diversity.
Besides being published in reputable academic outlets, the Sexualities Research Programme’s research has been presented at the Legislative Council, cited in judicial review cases in the Hong Kong court, widely cited in the media, as well as disseminated to policy makers, service providers, business and legal sectors, among others.
At the global level, the Sexualities Research Programme has worked closely with the United Nations Development Programme. It has provided commentary for international media outlets such as the BBC and Bloomberg, as well as having its op-ed published in the Guardian.
The Sexualities Research Programme is an important source of knowledge, expertise and research for government, policy makers, business leaders, lawyers, health care professionals, service providers, secondary school and university students, and social activists, both locally, regionally and internationally.
The Sexualities Research Programme’s research has been presented at the Legislative Council, cited in judicial review cases in the Hong Kong court, as well as disseminated to policy makers, and legal sectors.
For examples, research from the programme has been presented by Dr Chow, the then Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission, to the Panel on Constitutional Affairs at the Legislative Council, and Prof Suen has presented his research older people living with HIV to the Panel on Health Services at the Legislative Council.
The Sexualities Research Programme also provides timely responses to legal debates on LGBT+ issues. For example, following the ruling and observations made by the Court of Final Appeal in the case of W v Registrar of Marriages, the Hong Kong Government set up the Inter-departmental Working Group on Gender Recognition (IWGGR) and the IWGGR issued a public consultation paper on Part 1: Gender Recognition on 23 June 2017. The Sexualities Research Programme and the United Nations Development Programme co-hosted a Multi-Country Roundtable on Legal Gender Recognition on 19-20 October 2017 with government, civil society and NHRI participants from Hong Kong, Thailand and Viet Nam (all three jurisdictions in the process of developing a trans law).
The Sexualities Research Programme also co-hosted a conference on ‘Balancing LGBT and Religious Rights in Europe and Hong Kong’ with the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macau on 28 November 2016.
Prof Suen led the statement issued by the EOC and the Gender Research Centre of the CUHK calling on the Government to introduce LGBTI anti-discrimination legislation in Hong Kong. The statement was supported by 75 other entities. These are from a wide range of sectors in Hong Kong society including many large multinational financial institutions; diverse companies in the business sector ranging from one of largest global technology company to a well known local retailer; a large chamber of commerce and regional trade organisation; local and international law firms and legal organisations; local and international non-governmental organisations working on protecting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people; and several religious groups.
In addition to the 75 organisations that supported the statement, the Hong Kong Bar Association which represents all the over 1300 practising barristers in Hong Kong also issued a statement to support the call.
Prof. Suen is frequently invited to speak at different law firms.
Law &
Social Policy
Business
Prof. Suen is frequently invited to share his research with the business community. He has been an invited speaker at events organized by the British Chamber of Commerce, Community Business, Out Leadership, Out and Equal, Reaching Out MBA, among others. He has addressed staff members at numerous firms such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Freewheel, Freshfields, Moody’s, Nomura, State Street, etc.
The Study on Legislation against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status was widely recognized by the business community and won the Community Business LGBT Advocacy Award 2016.
Prof Suen serves on the research advisory board of Open for Business.
Prof Suen led the statement issued by the EOC and the Gender Research Centre of the CUHK calling on the Government to introduce LGBTI anti-discrimination legislation in Hong Kong. The statement was supported by 75 other entities. These are from a wide range of sectors in Hong Kong society including many large multinational financial institutions; diverse companies in the business sector ranging from one of largest global technology company to a well known local retailer; a large chamber of commerce and regional trade organisation; local and international law firms and legal organisations; local and international non-governmental organisations working on protecting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people; and several religious groups.
Media Coverage
26 Nov 2017
Whether a Gender Recognition System should be Established?
Mingpao
TVB
iNews Channel
TVB Pearl
Gay Star News
Topick-HKET
EJ Insight On the pulse
China Daily Asia
Commercial Radio
Apple Daily
AM730
Headline Daily
Hong Kong Economic Journal
Hong Kong Economic Times
Metro Daily
Oriental Daily
Hong Kong
In-media
Sing Tao Daily
The Sun
HKCable TV
Hong Kong Free Press
Connecting
the global and the local

The Sexualities Research Progrmame's research has been presented in: (2016-Present)
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United States
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The United Kingdom
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Taiwan
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Singapore
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Thailand
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China
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Cambodia
Scholars/ practitioners/ community members from the following locales have presented in SRP events
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Argentina
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Australia
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Bangladesh
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Cambodia
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Canada
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China
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Dominican Republic
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Ireland
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Jamaica
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New Zealand
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Panama
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Philippines
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Republic of Fiji
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Singapore
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South Africa
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Sri Lanka
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Switzerland
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Thailand
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Timor-Leste
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Turkey
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The United Kingdom
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United States
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Vietnam