1. 26 OCTOBER 1, 2009 People’s Republic of China
60 1949-2009 CHINA DAILY
TIMELINE
1902
Scholar Kang Youwei
proposes same-sex
OUTTHERE
marriages. One man tells Qian Yanfeng why he is not hiding his sexual orientation
1930s
The government lists
pederasty and homo-
sexuality as an offense
detrimental to public
morale.
1979-1991
L
awyer Zhou Dan lives with
Gay men were often
his partner, plays an active
detained on charges of
role in gay events and speaks
indecent assault even
outright for gay rights in public.
though the Criminal
The 35-year-old Shanghai
Law in 1979 didn’t
resident announced his homo-
specify pederasty was
sexuality on Chinese websites in
a crime.
2001 and says he will never need
to hide his real name or identity
1991
because of his sexual orientation.
The Ministry of Public
It is a far cry from the time
Security rules that
when Cui Zi’en, China’s leading
there is nothing illegal
gay theorist and activist, was
about two people of
stripped of his teaching qualifica-
the same sex living
tion and forced into hospital after
together. Two lesbians
he revealed his sexual orientation
were earlier arrested
in 1991.
in Anhui for living to-
Zhou says his experience was
gether.
entirely different.
1997 “We had a few quarrels, but my
The clause “indecent parents very soon accepted the
assault” was removed fact,” Zhou says.
from the Criminal Law. “My colleagues and friends, to Lawyer Zhou Dan says being openly gay is no longer the taboo it was decades ago. Wu Xiaoyan
my surprise, did not think it was
2001 a big deal at all. Even the media
Homosexuality is rec- gave me very positive coverage the government not to bar HIV- STARCAST
ognized as a natural and made me a prominent role positive people from jobs.
phenomenon instead My colleagues and friends, Cui Zi’en
model in the gay community.” to my surprise, did not Above all, he hopes to use
of a mental problem. Generally regarded
As shown by Zhou, being his professional background to
openly gay in China is no longer
think it was a big deal at provide legal counsel to homo-
as the first person in
2003 all. Even the media gave the Chinese mainland
the taboo it was decades ago. sexuals and fight for their rights.
Activist Li Yinhe sub- me very positive coverage to publicly reveal his
China removed the clause in the Still, he says there is a long
mits a proposal on and made me a prominent sexual orientation.
Criminal Law that led to the fre- way to go for gay rights in the
same-sex marriages quent police harrassment of gays role model in the gay com- country. Li Yinhe
to China’s top advisory and lesbians. In 2001, recognized munity. Although public tolerance for Sociologist, sexologist
body. it as a natural phenomenon rather the community has improved and activist for Lesbi-
than a mental problem. ZHOU DAN significantly over the years, the an, Gay, Bisexual and
2005 In recent years, gay bars and road to legislation on gays’ equal
Lawyer Transgender rights.
China’s Parents, gay and lesbian activists have rights to education, employment
Families and Friends sprouted in Chinese cities, while and marriage, as well as other
of Lesbians and Gays Internet access to gay groups issues like inheritance and child Qin Shide
group was founded in online has also helped eased the adoption, continues to present Professor from Qing-
Guangdong province isolation of homosexuals. challenges. dao University’s medi-
by Wu Youjian. From Cui’s failed attempt to proud that he has been part of Explicitly gay literature, cinema cal school said to be
hold the first gay and lesbian film this ongoing social transforma- and TV roles are also scarce and the first to reveal his
2009 festival in Beijing in 2001 to the tion: He helped start a hotline strictly controlled. sexual orientation in
Inaugural gay pride recent coming-out party of the for sexual minorities in Shanghai Social stigma and discrimina- Chinese academia.
festival held in Shang- first gay pride festival in Shang- in 2003 and has been teaching tion, meanwhile, continues to be Wu Youjian
hai to coincide with hai, there are clear signs that the China’s first graduate class on the major obstacle. Regarded as the first
the global gay pride country’s gay community has homosexuality and social science “The government has a big role Chinese mother to
movement. gone from being virtually invis- at Fudan University since 2004. to play in changing the attitudes publicly support her
ible to a recognizable social force He also takes on the issue of of people by promoting education child’s homosexuality
about 30 million strong. HIV/AIDS, propagating safe sex and training in both the public and in 2005.
Zhou feels both lucky and among homosexuals and lobbying professional sectors,” Zhou says.
LOOKINGGLASS
Crying out loud
Seven years ago, I came as a wide-eyed, fresh ter to different segments within the community. als are experiencing will have a profound and I see hope in the eyes of some of the young
university graduate to the bright lights of Shang- The city even has its own little “gayborhood” lasting impact even as modern Chinese society men I have met who set off from their village
hai on a one-way ticket. located within the former French Concession, continues to open up and embrace diversity. straight to Shanghai’s gay bars in search of
I found a city that, for all its amazing and as well as various sports and interest groups Homosexuality, after all, is not a Western freedom.
eye-opening ways, had very little to offer to gay meeting across town weekly. import. It has always been part and parcel of The echoes of this hope reverberate around
people like myself. This year, Shanghai hosted the Chinese China’s history — documented well beyond the the world today and it is a voice crying out loud
Nightlife options were limited. Online informa- mainland’s very first gay pride season — an often-cited stories of the “leftover peach” (yútáo ) to be heard.
tion was scarce. There were few avenues where event that was feted by China Daily as “an event and the “cut sleeve” (duànxiù).
members of the local gay and lesbian commu- of profound significance for the country and the Today, China is home to the world’s larg- Kenneth Tan is an editor
nity could meet and connect with each other. world” and one that did not escape the attention est gay population — 30 million by the most of Shanghaiist.com and a
Yet, there was a certain freshness and en- of the international media. conservative estimates. And with that comes a co-organizer of
Shanghai Pride,
ergy in the young, nascent scene that ushered All across China, a quiet revolution is brew- heavy responsibility. the Chinese
in the metamorphosis that I witnessed in the ing as a whole new generation of gay men and Much needs to be done for the invisible and gay pride
years between then and now. An explosion. And women across different age groups are coming long disenfranchised Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual season.
the journey has been an exhilarating one. out for the very first time.
Today, a plethora of bars, clubs and cafes ca- The personal liberation that these individu- much to be hopeful for.