[1/3]A volunteer attends a news conference ahead of the Gay Games in Hong Kong, China, November 2, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu License Rights Acquire
HONG KONG, Nov 2 (Reuters) – Hong Kong will be the first Asian city to host the Gay Games from Friday, co-hosting with a Mexican city in one of the biggest events in the financial center since COVID-19, despite calls for ban by rights activists and lawmakers who oppose LGBTQ efforts.
The Chinese-ruled city has no law against discrimination based on sexual orientation and does not recognize same-sex marriage, but its LGBTQ community has won some legal victories this year.
The most significant was the Supreme Court’s September ruling, which set a two-year deadline for the government to create a legal framework to recognize same-sex unions.
More than 2,300 athletes from 45 countries, including Great Britain, China, South Korea and the United States, are expected to take part, the organizers, Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK), said.
“Not only have we been able to bring the Games to the region, but we also have the largest number of participants from Asia ever joining the Gay Games in their 41-year history,” Alan Lang, the body’s co-chairman, said at a press conference on Thursday.
The former British colony’s government approved the gay games, which will run until November 11, but advised organizers to follow laws and regulations in a “safe and orderly manner”. “Our aim is not to advocate for any specific political or legislative changes, but to provide a platform for sport, arts and culture that promotes inclusion and diversity,” the Games’ organizing committee said this week.
Among the sporting and cultural events to be featured are some of Chinese origin, such as dragon boat racing and mahjong, while a new trail running event will be held on the mountainous island of Lantau.
However, concerns over the national security law Beijing recently imposed on Hong Kong will push Taiwan’s delegation away.
“The main reason … this time is that the safety of the Taiwanese players cannot be guaranteed,” said Yang Chih-chun of the Taiwan Gay Sports and Movement Association, adding that it was a “painful decision” not to send the athletes .
The athletes from Taiwan will go instead to the western Mexican city of Guadalajara, which is hosting the games at the same time.
Several Hong Kong lawmakers have publicly opposed the event, saying it poses a threat to national security, undermines traditional Chinese family values and follows “Western ideology.”
Five Hong Kong human rights activists also called for the games to be called off, saying organizers “have aligned themselves with pro-authoritarian figures responsible for widespread persecution” in Hong Kong.
“We have always respected and obeyed the law… We hope that all our participants will follow the laws and culture of Hong Kong,” GGHK co-chair Lisa Lam said on Thursday.
Many events will be held in private halls, universities or schools, with the opening and closing functions planned for a stadium in the bustling Wan Chai shopping district.
Beijing’s National Security Law, imposed in 2020 after months of anti-government protests, punishes acts such as subversion, collusion with foreign powers and terrorism with terms of up to life in prison.
Hong Kong and mainland China said the security law had brought stability after the 2019 protests.
Reporting by Jesse Pang; Editing by Farah Master and Clarence Fernandez
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
