Gay Games: amid lukewarm official support and vehement opposition, cool heads must prevail
- Most Hongkongers accept that some people are homosexual or bisexual, it’s not against the law, and showcasing our city’s inclusivity seems harmless enough
- So, why the mixed reception to the Gay Games when Chinese homosexuality goes back centuries?
Homosexuality has been documented in China for many hundreds of years. Several early Chinese emperors are thought to have had homosexual relationships in addition to heterosexual ones. Emperor Ai of the Han dynasty, for example, is reported to have had a long-running affair with one of his male concubines.
Therefore the suggestion, which is sometimes advanced, that homosexuality is somehow un-Chinese and a recent import from the decadent West, is simply absurd and does not correspond to historical fact.
Some may think we already have enough sporting contests – the Olympics, Asian Games, All-China Games etc – but the objective of the Gay Games is to garner acceptance for the LGBTQ community.
Last month, he went a step further and launched an online petition seeking to secure 120,000 signatures against the games. He claimed hosting them would damage the revival of the great Chinese civilisation and could even raise national security concerns. He pointed to Article 23 of mainland China’s national security law, which requires that we carry forward the traditional culture of the Chinese people, and guard against and resist the impact of harmful culture.
I hesitate to challenge Ho on a security issue, but I find that claim far-fetched for the reasons set out earlier.
InvestHK is there as well, together with 10 of the international chambers of commerce registered here. Finally, there is the Hong Kong Tourism Board, although I gather games events have yet to feature in its diary of forthcoming highlights. But there has been silence so far from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, despite its policy remit including both sports and anti-discrimination.
From the private sector, a variety of companies have signed up, including some tourism-related ones such as hotel groups and Cathay Pacific Airways. Many sports organisations are lending support, though there are some notable absentees.
I have absolutely no trouble accepting that some people are homosexual or bisexual and should be accepted in our society. I suspect my views are fairly reflective of the majority local opinion. I also understand that there may be a very small number of people who feel uncomfortable in the gender to which they were assigned at birth. In extreme cases, they may even wish to transition to the other sex.
To sum up, everyone needs to calm down and cool the debate. Advocates of the community should not be too militant, opponents should be kinder. Let the games begin.
Mike Rowse is the CEO of Treloar Enterprises