Hong Kong Radio Station Abruptly Halts Relaunch of LGBTQ+ Show

Hong Kong's vibrant, yet increasingly fragile, LGBTQ+ community has once again seen a space for expression abruptly closed. Metro Radio's decision to halt the relaunch of "We Are Family," a program that has long championed diversity and LGBTQ+ issues, is a deeply disappointing development. Host Brian Leung Siu-fai shared the news via the show's Facebook page, expressing his apologies to supporters and highlighting the suddenness and lack of explanation from Metro Radio's new management.

"We Are Family" has a significant history in Hong Kong, having been the city's first and only LGBTQ+ radio show since its inception in 2006. Its previous run on the government-funded broadcaster RTHK was cut short three years ago, but Leung continued the show on YouTube, maintaining a vital platform for discussion on gay culture and diverse lifestyles. The invitation to relaunch on Metro Radio's platform, Metro Info Live, had initially generated considerable hope, with an advertisement even airing before the abrupt cancellation.

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It was sudden and unusual… [I] send my apologies to all of We Are Family‘s supporters for getting everyone’s hopes up.

This incident is not isolated. It occurs against a backdrop of a palpable shrinking of public space for LGBTQ+ events and expression in Hong Kong. The cancellation of the LGBTQ+ carnival Pink Dot for the second consecutive year, and the earlier scrapping of an outdoor festival by the Hong Kong Pride Committee due to venue unavailability, paint a concerning picture. Leung himself, as a co-director of Pink Dot, is directly impacted by this trend, underscoring the systemic challenges faced by the community.

From our perspective at Hong Kong Free Press, this situation is emblematic of the broader pressures on freedom of expression and civil society in the city. While Metro Radio, owned by CK Hutchison Holdings, has yet to comment officially, the lack of transparency surrounding the decision is troubling. For the LGBTQ+ community in Hong Kong, "We Are Family" represented more than just a radio show; it was a symbol of visibility and a space for dialogue. Its halting is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to safeguard the channels of expression that remain, and the importance of continuing to speak up even when platforms are withdrawn.

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The platform is run by others, and we can’t influence their back-and-forth decisions. What we could do is to safeguard the channels we have left and continue to speak up.