Kirsty Gilmour Hopes for Greater LGBTQ+ Acceptance in Asia

Scotland’s European badminton champion Kirsty Gilmour, who came out as gay in 2021, said she hopes to see greater acceptance of LGBTQ people in Asia.

The 32-year-old urged broader progress across a region where the community largely continues to face discrimination and stigma.

“I would really love to see that actually,” Gilmour, who has advocated for inclusivity in sport, said in the Indian capital New Delhi when asked about the issue.

She was speaking on Saturday after a training session at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, where the world badminton championships begin on Monday.

Gilmour said she and another member of the Scotland team who is also part of the LGBTQ community appreciated staying at a hotel in New Delhi displaying prominent pride symbols.

“The hotel that we’re staying at has a massive LGBTQ elephant in the lobby and all the staff wear LGBTQ flag pins,” she said.