British bank HSBC is standing by two
rainbow lions it installed outside its headquarters in Hong Kong
which have riled family groups.
The colorful lions are a show of
support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and are to
be on display throughout December.
Anti-LGBT activist Roger Wong organized
a petition calling on the bank to remove the lions, which he
described as “disgusting.”
The statues are “causing annoyance to
the feelings of many Hong Kong people as well as trampling on the
existing family values,” Wong's petition states.
HSBC said that it would not cut short
the installation – part of the bank's Celebrate Pride, Celebrate
Unity campaign – pointing to reaction on Facebook, which it
described as “overwhelmingly” positive.