Henry Edward Tse (born 1990/91) is a transgender rights activist based in Hong Kong.[1][2] He is the founder of Transgender Equality Hong Kong.[3][4] In February 2023, Tse won a court appeal to remove full sex reassignment surgery as a requirement for changing gender on identification cards.[1][2][5]
Henry Edward Tse | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990 or 1991 (age 33–34)[1] Hong Kong |
| Alma mater | University of Warwick |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Organization | Transgender Equality Hong Kong |
Early life and education
editTse was born in Hong Kong and assigned female at birth. He experienced gender dysphoria from early childhood, which worsened when he attended a religious secondary school for girls.[6] He moved to the United Kingdom to attend the University of Warwick,[7] and began his gender transition in 2012, undergoing hormone treatment and top surgery.[6]
Career and activism
editIn the United Kingdom, Tse changed his gender to male on his British passport, got a Gender Recognition Certificate, and lived and worked as a man without difficulties.[6][8] After returning to Hong Kong, in 2017 he applied to update the gender marker on his ID card, but was rejected, as he had not undergone genital surgery. City law required full sex reassignment surgery to change the gender marker on one's ID card.[6][3]
Tse and two other trans men filed for judicial review, arguing that the surgery requirements violated constitutional and privacy rights. Their case was heard in 2018, but dismissed the following year.[6][9] Tse and other activists continued to appeal, ultimately appearing before the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal in January 2023.[6][8]
In February 2023, the Court of Final Appeal ruled in the activists' favor, stating that the government's surgery requirements were unconstitutional and unacceptably burdensome.[2][6][8] The ruling was not immediately implemented.[1]
In April 2024, after Hong Kong removed the requirement for full gender-affirming surgery,[10] Tse received a new identity card reflecting his gender change.[11]
Awards and recognition
editIn May 2023, Time magazine named Tse as a "Next Generation Leader".[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e de Guzman, Chad (May 23, 2023). "He Won a Landmark Trans Rights Case in Hong Kong—But His Work Is Just Beginning". Time. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Transgender men win Hong Kong court case over ID cards". NBC News. Associated Press. February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Lau, Chris (January 29, 2023). "'I want to show the diversity within Hong Kong's transgender community': activist Henry Edward Tse in court battle for ID card gender change publishes book". South China Morning Post. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Pang, Jessie (March 31, 2023). "Hong Kong transgender protesters say government is not abiding by landmark ruling". Reuters. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Pang, Jessie (February 6, 2023). "Hong Kong court makes landmark ruling protecting transgender rights". Reuters. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Li, Almond (February 13, 2023). "Hong Kong trans activist Henry Tse fought for the right to be recognised as a man without full surgery – and won". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Dreams of 'normal life' fuel HK trans activist's fight". Taipei Times. March 8, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Baska, Maggie (February 17, 2023). "Trans man who won historic Hong Kong legal case still can't 'live a normal life'". PinkNews. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong: Court ruling a setback in fight for equality for transgender people". Amnesty International. February 1, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ de Guzman, Chad (3 April 2024). "Hong Kong Amends Its Surgery Requirements to Change Gender Markers on IDs". Time. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Leung, Kanis (29 April 2024). "Hong Kong Transgender Activist Henry Tse Receives New ID Card After Yearslong Battle". Time. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.