A Hong Kong billionaire is offering $120 million to any many who can “turn” his lesbian daughter straight. Are you up to the challenge?
Hong Kong has often been praised as a city that appreciates its diversity. From the many cultures that make up the melting pot society to the often more liberal and open minded thinking found on the island, Hong Kong is often thought of as being a more forward thinking city in Asia.
Well I guess we were wrong, if the property impresario Cecil Chao has anything to say about it. You see back in September of 2012, the owner of Cheuk Nang Holdings Ltd. and international billionaire offered $65 million to any man able to convince his lesbian daughter to turn straight…as if it is a choice.
Billionaire who wants to turn his gay daughter straight. With sunglasses and interior decor like that he almost seems like a Bond villain.
ANYWAY…thousands of sub standard suitors later Chao was unable to find the “right” man to turn his daughter straight. So like any ridiculously rich and intolerant father unwilling to accept his daughter’s sexual orientation, Chao decided to up the ante and continue his search. This time offering $120 million!
Chao is willing to offer a “moderately deluxe lifestyle” to the man that is able to convince his daughter, who we might add has already eloped with her partner to France and got married, to become straight.
The happy couple.
As controversial as this may seem, Chao stated in an interview with ABC News 20/20 back in October 2012 that:
“I’m not saying that she’s not okay to be gay, I mean it’s her own choice and her own tendency, but she should make sure she knows what she wants. Maybe what she wants today is different [than] what she wants in the future.”
Furthermore if a suitor is found Chao believes the purpose of setting her straight isn’t as horrible as public perception may be. Chao added:
“I would not force her to marry a man, but obviously I would, from my point of view, prefer her to be married and to have grandchildren.”
Surprisingly Gigi Chao, the daughter in question and a highly respected LGBT activist and founding member of the gay rights group Big Love Alliance, is not as angry or upset at her father as many would expect. She has stated that she does not believe her father’s intentions are spiteful rather that he is from “another time” and does not understand that a sexuality whether it be hetero or homo, is something that can be just changed.
A billionaire, yet still has wicker furniture..smh…
As of now the search continues and probably in vain to any sane minded person. Gigi seems to be dealing with the situation incredibly graciously given the circumstances. As she told the South China Morning Post:
“I don’t think my dad’s offering of any amount of money would be able to attract a man I would find attractive, I would be happy to befriend any man willing to donate huge amounts of money to my charity Faith in Love, provided they don’t mind that I already have a wife. Third and lastly, thank you Daddy, I love you too.”
Hopefully things can progress and change for the Chao family to one day have a mutual understanding and acceptance of all lifestyles. However given that Cecil Chao has publicly claimed to have slept with other 10,000 women, he might be stuck in his old fashioned ways.
Good luck to Gigi!
Written by Editorial Staff