UK diplomat weds same-sex partner in Beijing

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-09-07

Brian Davidson, the UK consul-general in Shanghai, marries his partner
Scott Chang, in Beijing, Sept. 6, 2014. (Internet photo)

Notwithstanding China's opposition to gay marriage, United Kingdom's consul-general in Shanghai, Brian Davidson, has tied the knot in Beijing with his same-sex partner Scott Chang, an American citizen.

The wedding, held Saturday at the official residence of the UK's ambassador to China, Sir Sebastian Wood, is reportedly the second same-sex marriage to be conducted by the British diplomatic mission in China, with the first taking place just last week.

Davidson announced the marriage through his account on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, with the declaration, "Love is GREAT."

"I am very proud that the law in the United Kingdom today affords me the same rights as any other British national to be married to whomever I love. This is one very real example of how the United Kingdom practices equality for all," Davidson wrote in Chinese.

"For me, it means that finally, our family and friends (British, Americans and Chinese) can witness the moment we commit to love and cherish each other till death do us part. This is extremely important for both me and my partner," he added.

As of noon Sunday the post has been shared more than 27,000 times and commented on over 16,000 times, with a photo of Davidson and Chang at the wedding liked nearly 44,000 times.

Ambassador Wood also posted a photo of himself with the newly weds on his own Weibo page, together with the following comment in Chinese: "I am delighted and honored to have officiated the same-sex wedding of the UK's consul-general in Shanghai, Brian Davidson, and his partner at my residence today. We wish them a lifetime of happiness together."

Wei Jiangang, founder of the Chinese website Queer Comrades and a friend of the couple, said during the ceremony that it was the first time he was attending a legal same-sex marriage in China. There are still seven countries in the world where homosexual couples would be put to death and 70 countries where they would be thrown into prison, Wei said, adding, "China's gay rights movement still has a long way to go."

Though same-sex marriage and civil unions are not recognized under Chinese law, the wedding is legal under British law as diplomatic missions are afforded special privileges pursuant to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Beijing could have still objected to the marriage and prevented it from taking place in Chinese jurisdiction but did not.

Same-sex marriage was legalized in the UK via the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which was passed with a strong majority vote and given royal assent on July 17 last year. The key provisions of the act came into effect on March 13, 2014, with the first officially legal sex-same marriages taking place on March 29.

Same-sex couples can now marry at 23 British consulates around the world, including those on mainland China. The only British mission in China where same-sex marriages are not permitted is in Hong Kong, due to an objection raised by the region's government following aggressive lobbying from Christian groups.

Davidson, 50, who grew up in Northern Ireland and has a law degree from the University of Cambridge, has been consul-general in Shanghai since Jan. 2011, having previously served as consul-general in southern China's Guangzhou province from Oct. 2006.

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