Schema Magazine

The Real Life Bacherlorette, Hong Kong Style

Photo courtesy of scmp.com\n\nI would imagine that most LGBTQs would be at least mildly offended by a parent blatantly ignoring their child's sexuality by putting up millions of dollars to marry them off to the opposite gender, but I guess in some cases I'm wrong. \n\nEnter Hong Kong tycoon Cecil Chao Szestung, a man with Scrooge MacDuck amounts of money, and who has offered \$65 million to the man who can woo his lesbian daughter, Gigi. But instead of becoming suitably irate about it, Gigi's viewing this as \"entertaining.\"\n\nThe thing is, Gigi is probably right. This is a ridiculous amount of money and she's a catch: an architecture degree from the University of Manchester, the executive director of her father's company, and with good looks to boot. Plus her father doesn't care if the suitor is rich or poor. This has all the trimmings of a good gong show. If I was her, I'd be excited to see how it plays out, too. \n\nAlthough her father denies it, and it's not something recognized in Hong Kong, Gigi is already married to her partner of seven years. Maybe the spectacle her father is putting on will be entertaining in part because in the end it will mean nothing to her; she might simply say, \"No dice, but thanks for the show.\" \n\nFor now, the surge in attention she's getting is entertainment enough—her dormant Twitter account has seen a huge increase in followers, she receives more Facebook requests every second, and her father is already meeting with her potential soulmates. Will they dance for her? Will they stand outside her window holding up a stereo blasting \"In Your Eyes\" by Peter Gabriel? Anything could happen! This is going to be like an episode of Bachelorette on cocaine! \n\nPersonally, I hope her response at the end of all the trials is to laugh off her father's attempt to buy out her sexual orientation. And I also hope that highlighting such a procession will strengthen Gigi's conviction about her life as well as her relationship with her wife to serve as an example for others who are pressured out of what makes them happy. As much as someone would make a killing getting the rights to make this into a show, here's to hoping that no one gets a rose. \n