Kirsty Gilmour urges LGBTQ acceptance in Asia

Scottish badminton player Kirsty Gilmour has called for greater acceptance of LGBTQ people in Asia as she prepares for the world badminton championships in New Delhi.

Gilmour, who came out as gay in 2021, spoke on Aug. 15 after training at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, where the championships begin on Aug. 17.

The 32-year-old European women’s singles champion said she and another LGBTQ member of the Scotland team had been reassured by pride symbols at their hotel in New Delhi, including a large LGBTQ-themed elephant in the lobby and staff wearing flag pins.

“For me... it's just a little comfort to us to know that we're not going to be treated any differently,” she said.

Gilmour won the biggest title of her career in April, beating Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt 21-17, 21-15 to become Scotland’s first European women’s singles champion. She said she hoped that victory could help inspire more players in Scotland.