Violence can be tangible or intangible.
Facing the violence from gender inequality and neglect of democracy, Li Lok Yee Liona has fought for peace in response to such violence.
Li Lok Yee, a third-year student of Politics and Public Administration in The University of Hong Kong. She is the former editor in Undergrad, meanwhile is now working for the network media TMHK. Besides, Liona is one of “post-90″ teenages who actively participate in social affairs. In hope of more peaceful and equitable society, she spares no effort to fight for equal rights for people of different sexual orientations and democracy.
Li Lok Yee, who is a bisexual, has found lots of discrimination against homosexual people. In views of these cases, she decided to promote LGBT movement. The groups she help contains people coming from homosexual, bisexual, transgender and so on. In 2015, Li Lok Yee helped to set up Street Station of Rainbow of Hong Kong and help to lead the mass via handing microphone. In addition, she is also member of Queer Straight Alliance (QSA) Chuang. “Queer Straight Alliance is a student organization which promotes and celebrates sexual diversity. The Alliance aims to provide a safe social platform for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) members both on and off campus.”[1] One of her duties in QSA is to organize activities, such as organizing gathering and the LGBT Friendly’s career exhibition. From standing up for the people coming from homesexual, bisexual, transgender and so on, Li Lok Yee also serves them.
For the term of “Gender”, society will separate as the concept of “male” or “female”. Li Lok Yee thinks that there should not have the separated concept of “Gender”. She proposed labeling “male” or “female” may be a form of discrimination. The people defining as “Male” and “female” are just having different physical structure. There should not have any association with the “Gender”. We can see that our society needs a man and a woman to date and get in marriage. This policy, however, has been strangling the right to choose “the one” we love. Li Lok Yee – has take action and voiced out in response to this violence from gender inequality.
In addition to actively participation in LGBT movement, Li Lok Yee has responded to the demands for democracy and fought against violence policy. She has actively fought for social democracy, such as joining the Umbrella Movement in 2014 which required National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China to withdraw the suffrage about Hong Kong’s chief executive in August 31, 2014. During Umbrella Movement, not only has Liona fought for democracy, but she also served as a volunteer and helped observe whether the plainclothes had mixed in the crowds. During lash movement, she had involved and been responsible for transporting aid supplies as well.
Facing violence policy, many people will think that they are the “victims”. However, Li Lok Yee does not consider herself as a victim. She believes that relationship with her family can be mended, but the sacrifice from other is more than her. In social aspect, she thinks that citizens will lose the imagination about peaceful protest of Hong Kong. Besides, the whole relationship among Hong Kong is totally destroyed.
After the end of the Umbrella Movement, she will continue to pursue democracy and truth. In the past, she is the editor of Undergrad. By providing writings for the imagination of Hong Kong’s future, she took effort in the progress to discuss the Movement. Now, she still works for TMHK which is responsible to the record work. These records can guarantee the democracy’s protests not to suffer from unreasonable charges.
From the LGBT movement to democratic movement, Li Lok Yee quietly makes use of her own strength – using peace against violence in society – in exchange for a more peaceful community in Hong Kong.
[1] https://queerstraightalliance.wordpress.com/
Written by Lau Wai Ting