Gay Games: Despite political uncertainty, Hong Kong offers "rainbows"

 Gay Games: Despite political uncertainty, Hong Kong offers "rainbows"

At the Gay Games' closing ceremony on Saturday in Hong Kong, participants and volunteers will celebrate the conclusion of a week-long sports event that included mahjong and dragon boat racing, among other activities. There will also be disco and dancing.

However, the organizers are also feeling relieved among the celebration.

Since its inception in the 1980s in San Francisco, the worldwide event, formerly known as the Gay Olympics, has generated controversy. It was conceived by a US Olympic decathlete who wanted to spread the spirit of the Games for his community.

The celebration of diversity and inclusivity, however, has encountered further difficulties this year since it is being held in Hong Kong for the first time. The city's political liberties and international appeal have been severely damaged in recent years by the epidemic and China's stricter regulations.

When the global financial center won the proposal to host the games in Asia this year, it joined a prior list of host cities that included Sydney, Paris, and Amsterdam. The hub's breathtaking harbor and mountains had a drastically different appearance in 2017.

China stormed into its semi-autonomous region in 2019 after enormous pro-democracy riots shook the city, adopting a broad ordinance to clamp down on political protest or dissent.

The National Security Law has been utilized by Hong Kong's Beijing-backed administration over the last two years to crush any opposition, leading to the prosecution and imprisonment of about 200 individuals.

Residents of Hong Kong also saw how mainland China was cracking down on LGBT advocacy and expression during this period.

The biggest Pride March in the nation, held in Shanghai, has been canceled since 2021. Gay students at universities have also claimed experiencing prejudice. Earlier this year, Beijing's LGBT center, which has been operating for decades, announced that it will close for unspecified reasons.

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A Chinese man in his 50s named Nini, who traveled to Hong Kong for the Games, told the BBC that he thought Hong Kong's atmosphere was still far more tolerant and diversified despite recent changes.

He said that his chances to commemorate his community were dwindling in China. He so made the decision to take part in the Gay Games and registered in the mahjong competition.

"I don't seem to have got involved in any activities this year, so I am interested in experiencing the feeling of a rainbow shining," he said to the BBC.

However, some have avoided Hong Kong due to its reputation. Due to its strict Covid reaction, which prevented the city from welcoming back international visitors until September of last year, the Games that were initially planned for 2022 had to be rescheduled for a year later. As a backup, Guadalajara, in Mexico, was selected to serve as co-host.

Due to this, the number of competitors from across the world has split this year, with just over 2,300 people—more than half of them from Hong Kong—attending the Hong Kong Games, according to organizers who spoke with the BBC.

Some competitors traveled to Mexico for the Games. One of them was Team Taiwan, whose representatives specifically mentioned the dangers of the National Security Law of Hong Kong. They said, in essence, that they didn't want their players to run the danger of getting detained.

Pro-China conservatives in Hong Kong's legislature added fuel to these anxieties, claiming the Games were a "promotion of the gay movement" and may "involve national security issues incorporating bad ideologies"—without elaborating on how.

Some said that the Games served as a demonstration in favor of same  marriage being legal in the city, a right that is currently denied to LGBT individuals and is highlighted by a significant decision made this year in the city's courts.

One of the few legislators to openly endorse the Games, Regina Ip, made it clear to the BBC that her support did not equate to advocating for the legalization of same  unions in Hong Kong.

She refuted the security issues put up by her opponents by pointing out that the Games had been held with the full support of Hong Kong authorities.

"If the event compromised national security, it would be impossible to hold it in Hong Kong," she said to the BBC.

"We are the first Gay Games host city in Asia. It is something of which we are pleased. This is not possible in many other cities."

She argues, however, that despite the government's implied support, there hasn't been any public advertising.

Ms. Ip said that insufficient efforts had been made to market the event by the city's tourist board and other agencies involved, such as the Equality Commission.

In addition, festivities in Hong Kong have been more undercover than at the Mexico Games, where competitors paraded in the streets this week while flying gay flags. In Hong Kong, public demonstrations have almost stopped since 2020.

The Queen Elizabeth stadium in Wan Chai, the only open venue used for the Games, was inside for the wild opening ceremony, as competitors arrived dancing to Cher's Believe.

All other event venues were corporate or commercial spaces rented by businesses.

After competing in the dragon boat race, an Australian competitor expressed her satisfaction with the Games, although she was taken aback by the absence of any branding. To quote her, "it felt a little bit speak-easy." to the BBC.

She had seen a few buses and trams with the emblem, but nothing in comparison to the other events, such as culinary festivals, that the city had been advertising.

Additionally, there was no mention of the Gay Games whatsoever on the page of Hong Kong's official tourist website.

Mark Tietjen, a contestant who came from Sydney, said that he had also been hesitant to go because of worries that it wouldn't happen or would be too tiny.

And one day I simply decided to act rashly. However, it's disheartening, since you can see the amount of work that has gone into making it happen now that I'm here," Mr. Tietjen said. However, it's evident that many individuals worldwide have determined that Hong Kong won't be it. It is depressing.

The organizers of the games have made a point of emphasising how non-political the event is.

"We use athletics, the arts, and cultural events to promote diversity and inclusiveness. These actions comply with the National Security Law and are entirely lawful. Before the Games began, Lisa Lam, the co-chairman of the Hong Kong Games, told the BBC, "No objection at all."

As is often the case with events involving marginalized minorities in society, it is difficult to keep the politics of struggle apart from the festivities.

The BBC was informed by local gay rights activist Cammy Kwok that she was disappointed by the organizers' reluctance to discuss the background of local gay rights and the fight this year for marriage and housing rights for LGBT persons.

However, she welcomed any celebration of community, saying that "we have fewer and fewer occasions."