Hong Kong group opposes rating for Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ over claims of gay content

HONG KONG — An anti-gay group in Hong Kong has submitted a petition letter to the Hong Kong film classification authority to oppose its rating of Disney’s new live-action movie Beauty and the Beast as suitable for all ages.

In its letter submitted Wednesday (March 15), the Family School SODO (Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ordinance) Concern Group claimed the movie included gay scenes and neglected to criticise “gay-related behaviour or lifestyle” in any way.

Group convenor Mr Roger Wong Wai-ming said the rating given by the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration could mislead parents with reservations about homosexuality into thinking the movie was suitable for their children to watch.

“[This] could instil in some children values that their parents do not agree with, such as believing that being gay is normal and not a problem,” he said.

He added that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulated that parents should enjoy freedom of education and argued the rating had breached the freedom.

He urged the Hong Kong government to ban the film locally, delete gay-related scenes or classify the movie as category three, which would make it only suitable for those aged 18 or older.

But Ms Pearl Wong, executive secretary of pro-gay rights group Queer Theology Academy, said homosexuality had been included in sexual education materials for primary and secondary school pupils in Taiwan and many other places.

She said there would also be parents who had no problem letting their children watch the film and that parents who opposed homosexuality should not apply their own standards to others.

“The movie is about a human being falling in love with a beast,” she said. “Why don’t these parents feel that that’s unsuitable for children?”

Ms Wong added that parents should not impose their own values on the younger generation, especially their discrimination against a certain group of people.

“In this case, it’s very obvious that these parents are discriminating against gay people,” Ms Wong said.

She said children today had broad access to different information and that parents should let them explore and reach their own judgments with an open mind instead of restricting them.

The live-action movie featuring Disney’s first openly gay character is set to open in Hong Kong on Thursday. According to the film’s director Mr Bill Condon, villain Gaston’s sidekick LeFou is someone who “on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston”.

The Post has asked both Hong Kong Disneyland and the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration for comment. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST