Denise Ho: the pop star and activist on Hong Kong's frontline

Denise Ho's dark kohled eyes are bright with hope, although what lies ahead for her and the Hong Kong protesters remains highly uncertain as we meet in Hong Kong's Soho.

Denise Ho performing during a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong. Ho has also become a target for pro-China demonstrators after a funeral wreath with her face printed on it was left near a protest wall.At the Canadian consulate, another pro-Beijing group is picketing outside, holding signs denouncing Ho, who is a Canadian citizen.

But she was surprised by the ferocity of the Chinese government's attack on her afterwards. Ho was labelled "delusional" by China's foreign ministry. A poet in mainland China was arrested for transmitting a video of Ho's UN speech on social media. "I believe my celebrity and also the fact that people recognise me – especially the police recognise me – is something that can protect the people," she says.Ho was among those caught in the gas on June 12, a pivotal day in this year's protests. Debate on a controversial extradition bill – that would allow a Hong Kong person to be sent to mainland China to face trial under the communist legal system - was due to be held in the Legislative Council.

Since then, police action against the protesters has escalated, with some 1800 rounds of tear gas fired, often in residential areas, even into underground subway stations. Attesting to her household name status in Hong Kong, she is also the voice of Tigress in the Cantonese version of the blockbuster animated filmHer career in mainland China was burgeoning in 2013 as she toured in a theatre adaption of the Chinese literary classic, playing the male lead, Jia Baoyu . She had come out publicly as a lesbian the year prior, the first major Hong Kong singer to do so.

Ho spent a formative period of her singing career in Taiwan in 2010 and says she is "so happy" that Taiwan this year became the first place in Asia to legislate for same-sex marriage. Big Love Alliance was co-founded by Ho, pop singer Anthony Wong, and Hong Kong's first openly gay legislator, Ray Chan. Its office sits opposite Hong Kong's colonial police headquarters, now a trendy arts precinct.

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