LGBT+ Labour Migrants in Hong Kong : Participatory study on the subject of personal religiosity and spirituality among homosexual, bisexual and transgender migrants

Abstract

This study was commissioned by a practitioner and a student of Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Helsinki), Danila Timofeev. This is as an individual, separate body of research, conducted for student’s thesis work. It is based on empirical evidence (observation) as well as group interviews with service users and service providers. The field observations and research were conducted during the autumn of 2017 and spring of 2018 as part of practitioner’s international exchange terms, while serving and studying as an intern in a working life partner organization in Hong Kong (MFMW Ltd). The study investigated the subject of personal spirituality and religiosity among the so-called domestic workers (labour migrants) in Hong Kong, whose sexuality is different from the mainstream sexual identity (sexual minorities). The exposure to this subject was caused by the contact with self-organized LGBT+ migrant organizations and the following immersion process of the practitioner in one of the organizations (FILO Hong Kong) which was facilitated by the MFMW. As a result of the immersion process and observations on the field, the decision was made to investigate subjects of spirituality among the members of the group, with their active contribution. Eventually, such topics as personal religiosity, relations between LGBT+ community and religions and the issues of fluidity of identity arose from the conversations, interviews and observations. The aim of the study was to empower the service users and members of the community by giving them a plat-form to speak openly about their issues in open discussions and group interviews (“sharing sessions”). One of the broader goals of the study is to start a discussion on relevant, but scarcely researched topics of alternative Christian spirituality and the effects of exclusion of LGBT+ community from spiritual life (especially in Asia). The findings of the research revealed the connection between such phenomena as personal spirituality and self-organization, belonging of migrants to diasporic communities and how the exclusion and marginalization in home countries prepared the platform for migrants’ self-representation in Hong Kong. Key concepts of this work are: LGBT+ rights, multiple discrimination, labour migration, identity negotiation, participation, liberalization.