In a surprising turn of events, a Hong Kong arts hub abruptly canceled the revival of an LGBTQ-themed play, ‘We Are Gay,’ just hours before tickets were set to go on sale. The play, written by renowned playwright Candace Chong, explores a love triangle between three men and was initially staged in 2022. Its planned return to the West Kowloon Cultural District in November was halted following complaints that the production ‘defames’ Hong Kong. The cancellation marks another setback for the city’s LGBTQ community, coming shortly after lawmakers rejected a bill in September that would have granted limited rights to same-sex couples. The cast expressed disappointment but vowed to continue rehearsals and seek alternative performance opportunities. The West Kowloon Cultural District, a government-appointed statutory body, cited ‘a large number of complaints’ alleging the play ‘promotes confrontation and defames Hong Kong’ as the reason for the cancellation. Hong Kong’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau supported the decision, while Beijing-backed newspapers criticized Chong for allegedly using cultural work to oppose political norms. Cast member Anthony Wong defended the play, stating it does not depict the government or its policies. This incident follows the cancellation of Pink Dot Hong Kong, a major LGBTQ event, earlier this year due to venue denial by the same cultural district.