Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Hong Kong: A Scoping Review

Sex Res Social Policy. 2025;22(4):2094-2111. doi: 10.1007/s13178-024-01003-5. Epub 2025 Mar 6.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Discussion on the rights and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals in Hong Kong is often based on taken-for-granted socio-cultural norms but not grounded in empirical studies.

METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to map out the current status of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Hong Kong, with results reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The review captured 1205 unduplicated studies which were scoped to 152 peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 to 2022. Findings were categorised using an adapted Global LGBTI Inclusion Index into six domains: education, economic well-being, family, health, political and civic participation, and personal security and violence.

RESULTS: LGBTQ+ individuals in Hong Kong face prevalent exclusion and discrimination across major domains of life, which does material harm to their well-being. This underscores the importance of legal protection and recognition to address the exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals.

CONCLUSIONS: Gaps were identified for future research: (a) the need to address understudied domains other than health; (b) the need to focus on understudied populations (lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people); (c) the wide range of terminologies adopted in existing LGBTQ+ research; and (d) lack of representative data.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS: This review highlights the importance of collecting empirical data and obtaining representative data on the LGBTQ+ population to assess the current situation and progress made in LGBTQ+ inclusion in Hong Kong, and to inform policy changes related to LGBTQ+ rights.

PMID:41140789 | PMC:PMC12549774 | DOI:10.1007/s13178-024-01003-5