 With next month's Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games mired in controversy, it can be hard to remember the genuine rush of excitement and pride that can come with a two-week, global lollapalooza of sport. Next year's Gay Games, due to take place in Hong Kong, offers an antidote to the commercialization and politicization of the Olympics — at least, in theory. It's the first time since its 1982 inception that an Asian country will host the event, a boon for LGBTQ communities in a region where gay rights lag the West. But Hong Kong is a very different place than it was when the city was awarded the event in 2017. Major global corporations were vocal in their support for local LGBTQ rights including recognition of overseas same-sex marriages, and a lively Pride parade took place each year.  Lately it appears those gains are under threat. A trio of conservative politicians have called on the government to rescind its support for the event; one said that any proceeds from from the event would be "dirty money." It's hard to separate the resurgent anti-gay rhetoric from the broader political backdrop in Hong Kong. Some of the city's most vocal LGBTQ-rights activists, including the city's first openly gay lawmaker, are in jail for prodemocracy activities. Last year's Pride event was banned, part of larger restrictions on gatherings officially linked to Covid-19 containment measures. Organizers fear it's gone for good, part of a wider clampdown on protests or gatherings seen to be political in nature.
Sharon Yam, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky whose research focuses on issues linked to identity and race, connected the new pushback on the gay games with Beijing's growing control over Hong Kong. "Authoritarianism is interconnected to patriarchy, transphobia, homophobia, and oppression against non-normative bodies," she said There is plenty at stake for the city, which is fighting to keep companies from leaving. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and loyalist lawmaker Regina Ip have pushed back strongly against the homophobic comments.
As it is, the city's global financial behemoths have been effective advocates for LGBTQ rights, said Elizabeth LaCouture, an assistant professor of gender studies at the University of Hong Kong. "It's very important for them to realize they play an important role in keeping this issue on the table," she said. If they keep it up, Asia's first Gay Games will give everyone something to feel good about. — Isabella Steger | 
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