Scores of athletes celebrated the opening of the Gay Games in Hong Kong despite opposition from anti-LGBTQ lawmakers, marking the first time the international sporting event to be held in Asia
Scores of athletes celebrated the opening of the Gay Games in Hong Kong on Saturday despite opposition from anti-LGBTQ lawmakers, marking the first time the international sporting event to be held in Asia. Nearly 2,400 participants from about 45 territories, including Britain, the United States, and Australia, will compete in a variety of games, from tennis and swimming to culturally rich activities like dragon boat racing and mahjong in the nine-day event.
activism is a rare spot that is still making considerable progress in Hong Kong under a government crackdown on its civil society following the 2019 pro-democracy protests. The games foster hopes for a wider inclusion of sexual minorities in the Asian financial hub after court wins last month over housing and inheritance rights for same-sex couples married overseas. The city is also moving toward a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships following a landmark ruling in September.
development is uneven. There is no law against discrimination based on sexual orientation and same-sex marriage is not recognized. While there is growing social acceptance for sexual minorities, especially among the younger generation, a portion of the local society remains conservative. Several pro-establishment lawmakers, including Junius Ho, have publicly opposed the event, which runs from Friday to the following Saturday.
supporters from visiting Hong Kong. However, some from Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, visited the city under the name Chinese Taipei under which it competes in international sporting events. Hong Kong and Beijing have defended the security law saying it brought back stability to the city. Self-governing democratic Taiwan is the only region in Asia to allow same-sex marriages.
community, the presence of parents with their children at recent events shows a growing acceptance. 'For me, this is very important, because parents are showing their kids that this is part of normal life. They are saying to kids, 'Look, they are just like your classmates or teachers. We are the same and there is nothing different’.” The first Gay Games were first held in San Francisco in 1982.
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