Gay Games: Weeklong brandishing show closes with disco, moving in the wake of opposing all chances in the midst of political changes
Saturday, November 11, 2023
The reverberant and various shutting function of the Gay Games in Hong Kong on Saturday will stamp the finish of a marvelous drawn out show that exhibited a plenty of sports going from mythical serpent boat hustling to mahjong, BBC detailed.
In the midst of the celebration, in any case, coordinators can't get away from the setting of difficulties looked by the occasion, symbolic of its excursion from its beginning as the "Gay Olympics" in 1980s San Francisco.
The current year's festival of inclusivity and variety experienced obstacles that were never seen before as it occurred in the clamoring Hong Kong.
The city's political scene and cosmopolitan person, once flourishing, have endured the hardship of the pandemic and the fixing grasp of China's impact throughout the course of recent years.
Hong Kong tied down the bid to have the games in 2017, flaunting its dazzling harbor and rocky setting.
Be that as it may, since the favorable to a vote based system fights of 2019, the political environment has moved decisively.
China stated new powers in the semi-independent domain, executing a broad Public safety Regulation to stifle political dispute.
Over the past two years, the Beijing-backed government in Hong Kong has used a national security law to suppress any form of opposition, leading to the prosecution and imprisonment of around 200 people.
The city's residents have also seen a crackdown on LGBTQ+ activism reminiscent of mainland China, where the suspension of the 2021 Shanghai Pride march and reported discrimination against gay university students have highlighted the challenges facing the community.
Earlier this year, the closure of Beijing's long-standing LGBTQ+ center, citing reasons beyond its control, was another example of the difficulties the LGBTQ+ community faces in navigating the changing socio-political environment.
As disco lights illuminate the closing ceremony, participants and volunteers reflect on the dichotomy of celebration and worry, summarizing the journey of the Hong Kong Gay Games against the backdrop of a city undergoing profound transformation.
According to Games organizers, they were diligent in emphasizing that the event was truly apolitical.
"We promote diversity and inclusion through sports, arts and cultural activities. These things are completely legal and in line with national security law. No objection," Hong Kong Games co-chair Lisa Lam told the BBC. start of the games.
However, like any gathering centered around a minority that still faces societal disadvantage, it is proving challenging to prevent politics from taking place between the ongoing struggle and the celebrations.
Local gay rights activist Cammy Kwok told the BBC that the organizers' limited recognition of the local gay rights context, including the current challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in seeking marriage and housing rights, was disappointing.
However, Kwok emphasized the importance of any event that celebrates the community and expressed gratitude for these opportunities, especially in a climate where such opportunities are increasingly rare.
