Who are we? The QSA x FinS Mentorship Program is an initiative of FINS (Fruits In Suits) to support the Q***r Straight Alliance (QSA). Why this program?
We're a mentorship program for HK based q***r students: a collaboration between the Q***r Straight Alliance (QSA), HK's largest LGBTQ student network, & Fruits in Suits (FinS), HK's longest running informal monthly gathering for HK's LGBTQ community. We serve the local q***r student community by matching local university students (affiliated with QSA) with local professionals for mentorship, as st
udents prepare for the transition to be full time working professionals. Our program mirrors the academic calendar, running between November and May each year. Our mentors provide a safe environment for students to discuss career, life challenges, opportunities, and supporting them to be their best self. The program is non-profit, run by volunteers. It is not a Career Market or a Dating Platform. A motivation assessment for both Mentee and Mentor is part of the application process for participation. For more information, reach out to the Committee Chair at [email protected]. Fruits in Suits (FinS) is Hong Kong’s longest running informal monthly professional networking event for the city’s LGBT+ community. FinS has access to resources, aids in the influence on the local business community and takes part in helping to further LGBT causes in Hong Kong.
12/11/2025
At the end of October we launched the 16th year of our QSA x FinS Mentorship Program! Huge thanks to the 77 mentors and 71 mentees from 11 universities, institutes, and colleges in Hong Kong who helped us launch another amazing year.
Our program is all about supporting Hong Kong’s ~5,000 strong q***r student community by connecting local university students (linked with Q***r Straight Alliance - QSA) with local professionals. Together, they navigate the practicalities for the jump from school to full-time work. Our mentors create a safe, welcoming space where students can talk openly about career goals, life’s ups and downs, and new opportunities—helping everyone grow into their best selves.
Big thanks again to Goldman Sachs for sponsoring our launch, giving mentors & mentees a fun and inspiring chance to meet and kick off the year together.
We’re proud to be part of Hong Kong’s LGBTQ+ Pride story—standing up against hate, celebrating who we are, and stepping forward with strength and hope for the future.
Pink Alliance 粉紅同盟 FinS - Fruits in Suits, Hong Kong
15/08/2025
We’re launching our 16th year of our mentorship program! For those interested in becoming a mentor, email us now for more information: [email protected]
15/08/2025
We're launching our 16th year of our mentorship program!
For those interested in becoming a mentor, email us now for more information: [email protected]
14/05/2025
June 5th, our Q***r Culture Speaker Series continues!
In honor of June Pride month we're continuing our Q***r Culture Speaker Series: fun and engaging academic talks free and open to the public. It's a great place to listen to and discuss the larger themes surrounding HK LGBTQ history.
Our talks are free and open to the wider community, so please inform and invite your friends, Pride groups, networks, colleagues, and help repost on social media. We need your help to share the information as widely as possible, to let the community know so we can have robust attendance!
Thursday 5th June, Free admission.
Time: Doors at 7pm, talk at 7:30pm.
Venue: SoHo House Hong Kong, 33 Des Voeux Rd West, Sai Ying Pun
Please invite your friends and share with your networks!
RSVP to [email protected], but walk-ins are welcome.
Pink Alliance 粉紅同盟 FinS - Fruits in Suits, Hong Kong Q***r Straight Alliance - QSA
02/12/2024
For our 3rd and last talk in our Q***r Culture Speaker Series, we were thrilled to welcome Dr. Sonia Wong to share about Hong Kong's LGBTQ history from the 2000s to today, presenting a personal narrative of q***r awakening, shaped by her experiences and pop culture influences. She discussed how societal norms, often dictated by straight white men, have historically marginalized q***r identities. Wong highlighted the prevalence of Cantonese opera before the 1960s and the significance of strong female role models in her life. Introduced to feminist ideas by her grand-aunt and immersed in a girls' school environment, she reflected on gender and sexual fluidity as inspired by Japanese animation like Sailor Moon. Wong embraced her pansexuality and shared experiences of same-sex attraction as normal and natural, countering stigma with narratives of love and identity. She connected historical representations of women in the silk industry and 90s to early 2000s Hong Kong cinema showcasing gender-bending roles to contemporary issues, emphasizing the visibility and abundance of q***r representations in pop culture, despite perceived past limitations. By referencing iconic figures and works, such as the Butterfly Lovers, local q***r trailblazers Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, and the rebellious music of t.A.T.u., she illustrated the ongoing struggle for authenticity and acceptance in a society where living one's truth often comes at a cost, but also the unexpected resources that have always been present in our surroundings.
Thanks to Cooley LLC and Pink Alliance for sponsoring snacks, allowing for the 60+ audience to remain for two more hours discussing the topics and how they related to them.
Several audience suggested that Dr. Wong continue with a follow up talk "HK LGBTQ history, part 2" in the future, as time was short as there was indeed so much information to cover, therefore dozens of slides with examples had to be skipped. We look forward to facilitating a future "part 2"!
Many thanks to all who helped, contributed, attended, or shared with your networks about our first ever Q***r Culture Speaker Series. What a wonderful way to bring community together, enhance understanding, as well as preserve and expand q***r spaces in our city.
23/11/2024
For our Q***r Culture Speaker Series talk #2, Dr. Ben Rowlett explored the complexities and nuances he's encountered researching q***r communities in Asia, focusing on studying language used to explore themes of identity, activism, and the socio-political landscape impacting LGBTQ+ rights and representation. Key discussions highlighted the intersection of culture, language, and community dynamics, emphasizing both challenges and progress within various contexts. Wide ranging language examples from across Asia were discussed, including many from Hong Kong, Cambodia, and Taiwan.
By examining the interplay between culture, language, and advocacy, we were introduced to deeper insights into the ongoing struggles for visibility, rights, and acceptance in various Asian contexts.
Looking forward to our 3rd and last Q***r Culture Speaker Series talk Hong Kong LGBTQ+ history, 2000-present, this Tuesday, 26 Nov. Join us!
23/11/2024
The 3rd and last instalment of our Q***r Culture Speaker Series:
HK LGBT+ History: "All The Things She Said": Navigating The HK Q***r Landscape In The 2000s As A Young Le***an
Free admission. Bring a friend! Snacks kindly sponsored by Cooley LLP and Pink Alliance
Time: Doors at 6pm. Talk starts at 6:30pm, ends 7:30pm, followed by socializing.
Venue: Soho House, 33 Des Voeux Rd West, Sai Ying Pun
13/11/2024
Our second Q***r Culture Speaker Series talk will be this coming Tuesday, 19 Nov!
Talk: doors at 6pm, starts 6:30pm, followed by FinS (Fruits in Suits) networking from 7:30-10pm
Free admission; bring your business card for the lucky draw. Please invite your friends and colleagues!
13/11/2024
What a wonderful opening talk in our Q***r Culture Speaker Series! A very fun and thoughtful evening where Cecilia Wong from CUHK presented her research examining q***r media, specifically q***r Zines from the 1990s. She discussed how the Zines provided avenues for q***rs to find connections, helpful information, and importantly make their voices heard. Often times the le***an voices were civic minded, which differed compared to what gay zines focused on at the time. She further showed how these q***r zines evolved over time along with their relationships to other print media as well as internet sites. She also discussed how le***an culture and feminism intertwined. She stressed that neither the zines or the internet had independent linear development, but rather they evolved around and with each other. She stressed the purpose of the research was not for nostalgia, but instead was an opportunity to trace and deconstruct Zines via examining the archives in hopes to provide thoughts and guidance for the future of q***r media.
Looking forward to the second Speaker Series talk next week!
03/11/2024
In honor of November Pride month in Hong Kong, as well as our 15th year of the mentorship program, we’ve put together a series of 3 talks held over 3 weeks in November: Q***r Culture Speaker Series, covering the themes of HK LGBTQ+ Media, Pride in Asia, and HK LGBTQ+ history.
The first talk will take place on Monday 11 November.
Free admission. Food & beverages kindly sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills on 11 Nov.
Time: Doors at 6pm. Program starts at 6:30pm, ends 7:30pm, followed by networking.
Venue: SoHo House Hong Kong, 33 Des Voeux Rd West, Sai Ying Pun
Please invite your friends and share with your networks!
What a wonderful launch of our mentorship program’s 15th year! Goldman Sachs kindly hosted and we enjoyed some fabulous networking time together as well. With 82 mentors and 78 mentees we’re off to a fantastic start!
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The Mentorship Program is a collaboration between Q***r Straight Alliance (QSA), the largest Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex + (LGBTQI+) student network in Hong Kong and Fruits in Suits (FinS, run by the Pink Alliance): the largest LGBTQI+ professional network in in Hong Kong.
Over the past nine years, the Mentorship Program has facilitated the multi-dimensional development of over 500 student Mentees through the guidance of our professional Mentors from an increasingly wide range of industries.
Facts, Requirements and Expectations
- This program provides a platform for students from Hong Kong’s higher education institutions to meet their Mentors over the course of the academic year within a limited and defined time commitment. Some relationships have supported the coming out process and evolved into long lasting friendships; but there is no expectation for this.
- The specific aim of this program is for our participants to gain insight on successfully navigating and operating in the workforce as a member of the LGBTQI+ community. Both those in the community and allies to the community comprise our mentor and mentee panels.
- LGBTQI+ issues and culture will be openly discussed and attendance to LGBTQI+ events is recommended. You are not qualified for this program if you are uncomfortable with this.
- Mentors may or may not identify themselves as part of the LGBTQI+ community and may or may not be “out”. Our ally mentors are well suited to serve because they have a desire to better understand this experience and they can offer their observations on what works.
- The commitment runs from late Oct (or early Nov) through early Jun. Mentors make themselves available to meet with their assigned mentee, which typically involves three to four in-person meetings (a couple of lunches or dinners, coffees and maybe an outing day). We estimate a total time investment of 20 hours or less. Pairings also tend to meet at the monthly FinS events.
- While not mandatory, participation at the launch event is especially important for new Mentors to the panel so they can receive further program advice. The following three program-wide events are anticipated:
- Launch event - late Oct weekday evening (location: Central)
- Mid-year event - late Jan/ early Feb (time and location: TBC); and
- Closing event - early Jun weekday evening (location: TBC)
- Mentor requirements: residency in Hong Kong for the duration of the program; at least 3+ years of work experience in any geography or in any industry; need not have experience mentoring; need not be working today (you have more time to share!); and must successfully complete screening process which will involve a 1-1 phone call with our Committee member. If you cannot manage this phone call, you are automatically excluded.
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