LettersWhy the Gay Games in Hong Kong matter for Asia

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. We are only 100 days away from the Gay Games, a celebration of diversity, inclusion and acceptance. They provide a platform for visibility, empowerment and advocacy. Most importantly, they represent a community that shares the same passion for sport and the values of respect, dignity and equality. For minorities, representation and visibility matter. Having role models is very important. We hope that positive role models from the games will help remove stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people, and also help young people who may be questioning their own sexuality or gender identity to feel less alone. Professional athletes who have come out can live their authentic selves and succeed in sports at the same time. A common sentiment among our athletes is their feeling of relief over not having to live a lie. With some parts of the world in a worrying swing back to anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes, events like the Gay Games in Hong Kong are more important than ever. In Asia, there are not that many opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to come together at scale, and participate in an international event that celebrates the spectrum of identities not always accepted in broader society. The inclusive nature of the games, which are open to anyone regardless of sexual orientation, is part of the event’s unique strength. We are aware of the risks and challenges that come with hosting such a large-scale event in a complex, dynamic and multidimensional world. But our team has not lost sight of the event’s purpose, which is simply to celebrate diversity and inclusivity through sport, arts and culture. We are proud of how much the team in Hong Kong has accomplished in spite of the challenges. LGBTQ+ people in Hong Kong, while not having some of the rights that other countries and regions have granted, such as marriage equality, are able to live openly and authentically in public. There are no safety concerns for LGBTQ+ tourists visiting the city. Hong Kong is ranked as one of the safest cities in the world, and hate crimes against someone based on their gender or sexual orientation are rare. We welcome anyone to join us in creating history in Hong Kong in November, at the first Gay Games held in Asia. Come and be a part of a global event, a meeting of people from all over the world in the spirit of sport and personal best. Joanie Evans, co-president, Federation of Gay Games, and Lisa Lam, co-chair, Gay Games Hong Kong Brics countries pose a growing threat to the US The Brics bloc’s talk of creating a common currency to replace the US dollar in trade settlements is causing some concern in Washington. Recently, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa turned to experts at the bloc’s bank for recommendations on how the idea might be implemented. The bloc’s summit next month will be held face to face, amid expectations that further steps may be taken towards de-dollarisation. The Brics bloc is one of the world’s most important economic blocs striving to shape a multipolar world. It is an alternative to Western democracies, and the United States-European Union partnership. The Brics members now have a unique opportunity to show the West that one does not necessarily have to follow the White House’s agenda to increase one’s prominence on the world stage. What could prevent the Brics members from creating a common currency and developing an alternative to the Swift payments messaging system? Given the possible expansion of Brics to include more emerging economies – already, Algeria has applied to join the bloc – it could soon be competing with the West in both the economic and political arenas. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the United States is moving to counter Brics. Washington seeks to maintain and expand cooperation with New Delhi, given that India is a Brics member which the US still has healthy relations with. India recently said there was no plan for a Brics currency. It is pertinent to note that India plays a crucial role in the Indo-Pacific region where the US seeks to restrain China’s growth. However, even if the US manages to leverage India further, it is unlikely to be enough to slow down the expansion and development of Brics. Luan Portinari, Brasilia, Brazil China could and should stop the Ukraine war I am begging Chinese President Xi Jinping to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to remove his troops from Ukraine. There is no argument about the fact that Putin has invaded another country. Xi is the only person on the planet that can stop this war. In the long run, stopping the war will benefit China and make Xi a global peacemaker. Please stop this war and stop the deaths. China has decided to be a superpower and a global player and with this comes the responsibility of keeping world peace and upholding laws. Doug Cliff, New South Wales, Australia

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Readers write in about the significance of the first Gay Games to be held in Asia, the possible expansion of Brics, and why China must stop the Ukraine war

Readers write in about the significance of the first Gay Games to be held in Asia, the possible expansion of Brics, and why China must stop the Ukraine war