<p>For the first time in Asia, the Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK) began on Saturday, in spite of protests from human rights advocates and MPs who are against the LGBTQ community.</p>
<p>The Federation of Gay Games, the GGHK, and international delegations marched in to kick off the opening ceremony. The Hong Kong lion dance was among the acts that came next.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-268901″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/theindiaprint.com-x-introduces-grok-a-new-generative-ai-chatbot-to-take-on-google-bard-and-chatgpt-d.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com x introduces grok a new generative ai chatbot to take on google bard and chatgpt d” width=”1055″ height=”702″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/theindiaprint.com-x-introduces-grok-a-new-generative-ai-chatbot-to-take-on-google-bard-and-chatgpt-d.jpg 275w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/theindiaprint.com-x-introduces-grok-a-new-generative-ai-chatbot-to-take-on-google-bard-and-chatgpt-d-150×100.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1055px) 100vw, 1055px” title=”Despite resistance, Asia's First Gay Games Open in Hong Kong 6″></p>
<p>Lisa Lam, co-chair of GGHK, said, “The vision of the Gay Games has always been to create a sports, arts, and culture festival that celebrates participation, inclusion, and personal best.”</p>
<p>Lam expressed GGHK’s pride in launching the first-ever all-gender multisports category, which will allow competitors of all genders to participate alongside one another.</p>
<p>There will be more than 2,300 competitors from 45 nations for the sports and cultural activities, which will include mahjong and dragon boat racing.</p>
<p>The tournament is being co-hosted by Guadalajara, in Mexico.</p>
<p>Hong Kong does not recognize same-sex marriage and does not have any laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation.</p>
<p>The government has two years to create a legislative framework recognizing same-sex partnerships, according to a September verdict by the country’s highest court.</p>
<p>When the organizers were informed in August that the Games had to be held in a “lawful, safe, and orderly manner,” the government declined to send representatives to the opening ceremony.</p>
<p>The city was subjected to the National Security Law (NSL) by Beijing in 2020 after months of anti-government demonstrations. Subversion, connection with foreign forces, and terrorism are punishable by law with life sentences.</p>
<p>The government has two years to create a legislative framework recognizing same-sex partnerships, according to a September verdict by the country’s highest court.</p>
<p>When the organizers were informed in August that the Games had to be held in a “lawful, safe, and orderly manner,” the government declined to send representatives to the opening ceremony.</p>
<p>The city was subjected to the National Security Law (NSL) by Beijing in 2020 after months of anti-government demonstrations. Subversion, connection with foreign forces, and terrorism are punishable by law with life sentences.</p>
<p>Legislator Junius Ho, a supporter of Beijing, wrote to John Lee, the mayor of the city on Thursday, claiming that the gay games’ goal is to encourage same-sex marriage and that this is against the NSL.</p>
<p>The June Games should be canceled, according to five human rights activists from Hong Kong, who claimed that the organizers “have aligned themselves with pro-authoritarian figures responsible for widespread persecution against the people of Hong Kong.”</p>
<p>Taiwan is sending athletes to Guadalajara instead of Hong Kong because to security worries around the NSL.</p>
<p>Before the opening ceremony, onlookers waved, shouted, and yelled despite the opposition.</p>
<p>This is a smart move, as homosexuals are not well-liked in China in particular. Thus, goal is to become prominent in China as LGBT people,” Berlin participant Gerrit Schulz, 80, said.</p>