“DOUBLE DISCRIMINATION as migrant domestic workers (MDWs) and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community is very real and concerning,” says Rev. Marrz Saludez Balaoro, founder of Filguys, a community support group for LGBTQ migrant workers in Hong Kong. They are also a pastoral leader for the Let God Be Thy Savior (LGBTS) Christian Church HK. 

Double – or intersectional – discrimination is when someone faces challenges based on two or more personal characteristics, such as race, gender, age, disability, or sexual identity. For example, the difficulties one faces as a migrant domestic worker – an already marginalised community – are compounded for those identifying as LGBTQ, which can easily add to the stress of life abroad.

We encourage our members to engage in sports like volleyball, basketball, and airsoft, to divert them from drinking in bars or gambling, which is rampant here in Hong Kong 

– Rev. Marrz Saludez Balaoro, founder of Filguys

It was a heartbreaking incident that led to the establishment of Filguys. “In October of 2005, a guy brutally attacked a lesbian at a karaoke bar in Central. Both the assailant and the victim were Filipino. It was a homophobic attack and caused alarm in the Filipino LGBT community,” Rev. Marrz recalls sadly.

“Five of the witnesses of the attack went on to become founding members of Filguys (alongside 21 others from the community), which we formed in October 2006 at Club de Manila in Wanchai, with me as the Founding President,” they said.

For those subjected to intersectional discrimination, community groups 

like Filguys provide a vital support network, creating a safe space to connect with others who have been through similar experiences.

“We encourage our members to engage in sports like volleyball, basketball, and airsoft, to divert them from drinking in bars or gambling, which is rampant here in Hong Kong,” shares Rev. Marrz.

“We also host beauty pageants, Zumba sessions, and singing events for fun. We help members in need through voluntary contributions, or ‘pass-the-hat’, alongside Filguys membership assistance. When a member gets terminated or needs shelter while waiting for a visa, we facilitate temporary shelter for them,” they add.

While groups like Filguys play an important role in providing support and filling the void of being away from family, it is sometimes an LGBTQ individual’s own kin – especially for those from conservative and traditional households – who can be the least supportive. 

Verbal abuse, like humiliation and public berating, is common, primarily due to family members who misguidedly want to ‘cure’ their relative’s sexual orientation. Coupled with the persistent stress and trauma of derogatory name-calling, teasing, and intrusive questions among peers, colleagues, and even friend circles, the prevalence of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation amongst the LGBTQ migrant worker community is tragically unsurprising. 

Of course, that is not always the case – some are lucky to have supportive families back home. “Most of our families are accepting, especially as we [MDWs] are the breadwinners. Unlike before we came to Hong Kong, we had no voice or space in the family,” Rev. Marrz shares. “Now, they communicate with us and are more open to us, asking us questions like, ‘when will you go home for a holiday?’ or ‘when will you bring your girlfriend along?’

 “We coordinate and support other local LGBTQ+ communities and events in addition to our own events. We just held our 19th anniversary celebration and Sports Fest 2025 last November 23rd – there were competitions, and we had a big spread of food for everyone,” Rev. Marzz says.

“[Over the years] our members come and go, but we all have a responsibility and make sure that the integrity of the group is maintained and does not deviate from its principles. We warn our members of networking activities, schemes, or loan sharks, which are detrimental to our livelihood and jobs here in Hong Kong,” shares Rev. Marzz.

Whether we identify as heterosexual or as LGBTQ+, sexuality is a part of our core identities, part of what makes us who we are. It is closely tied to how we see ourselves and plays a big part in our emotional well-being. In relationships that we have with other people, sexuality is central to making connections, experiencing intimacy, forming strong bonds, and gaining a better understanding of another person by being open with shared vulnerabilities.

“Even though I haven’t been in Hong Kong since 2020, I continue to support and closely watch Filguys. I can see their future is bright, with a new breed of leaders that will be better and dynamic, trying new ideas and programmes for our members,” Rev. Marrz says. “They will continue on the good intentions we started; Filguys is our family here in Hong Kong.”