GAY CHINA

Oogleman · Site Admin Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 4141

Whats hot and whats not in Gay China!

China is a huge and very diverse country. Gay activity is tolerated in a few places (mainly large cities) but the political scene in China can mean rapid changes in official attitudes. The authorities have recently admitted that gays and lesbians do exist and have begun working with gay groups.

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Gay Scene · Guest

GAY CHINA LISTINGS

Following years of repression Chinese gays and lesbians have increasingly been coming out. Both the government and society is becoming more tolerant. It seems there is a conflict between government homophobia and a desire to take practical steps to combat Aids. For example, in 2005 the government temporarily closed down a gay website whilst at the same time running a safe sex campaign aimed at gays. A gay scene has been developing in China with Shenzen in southern China being seen as the country’s ‘gayest city’ -its close to Hong Kong and local attitudes towards homosexuality are relatively tolerant. Gay and Lesbian visitors to China will therefore not be uncomfortable.

Drag On Bar

The bar is at De Sheng Men (tell taxi drivers: De Sheng Men jian lou) - near north-western corner of and immediately off the 2nd ring road, north side. De Sheng Men jian lou is one of the original gates of old bj and the bar is within the gate! Great location if a bit far. Entrance is from the south-east corner, should see signs. On the ground floor, large outdoor sitting and enclosed bar area, underneath which is the dance club. All newly renovated. The owner, Sam, is always around; very friendly guy who speaks English, as the bartenders (but not the wait staff - they have English drinks menus), all friendly and cute. Cabs going home aren't too difficult to catch as the gate is at a major intersection. Upstairs, on the terrace of the gate, is a beer garden but not exclusively gay.

BJ Destination

#7 Gongti Xi Lu, near the Worker's Stadium BEIJING
Phone: 6551-5138; email info@bjdestination.com
http://www.bjdestination.com/index_en.htm

"Excellent, helpful and handsome wait staff, cool managers and a really nice atmosphere. Drinks are large and well-made at a reasonable price."

Ting&Tong · Site Admin Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 1874

China's Gay Men Prosper in Business and Romance

Intro: Not all gay people live in the dark shadows of China, away from the new prosperity. A number of 'nouveau comrades' in Shanghai live well and socialize in warm friendship networks. They tote cell phones, speak fluent English and have above-average incomes; several are in loving relationships. They live active, productive and eventful lives--part of the emerging 'guppie' class

Living the Good-Enough Life in Shanghai

The most impressive images of central Shanghai today are it's architectural grandeur and its material abundance. It looks and feels big with its 14 million people, its great river harbor, towering sleek skyscrapers, countless oldtown lanes, immense new airport, squeaky-clean subway and an impressive new library. The central Peoples Square is a cardiac throb of life with its museums, theatres and fountains; across town the enormous Everbright Convention Center hosts a stream of industrious exhibitions. Shanghai is very busy, very modern, wired and prosperous.

And part of this throb is the modern urban Chinese gay community. Although lesbigays are virtually invisible in public, it's only part of the reality. Measured by western standards of activism, parades, TV and film, civil unions, and HIV organizations, gay China is no where to be seen.

But such external appearances are not the only measure of gay life in urban China today. Recently I sat with a group of gay Chinese friends at a large dining table, flooded with food, in a private dining room of an upscale hotel overlooking the entire harbor of Shanghai (the Bund). The view is magical, spectacularly Disney, a glittering display with a million city lights reflected in the busy churning waters of the dark river.

Of the nine men gathered around, six were coupled; five worked for international corporations; three owned their own apartments; six have traveled abroad; and all carried cell phones. The talk ranged from food to economics, job descriptions to relationships, gay bars in Shanghai to the best bakeries in town.

But the topics are not what I remember most. Memorable is the easy ambiance of the evening. The laughing, the playfulness among caring friends, the relaxed manner, the campy comments aimed at each other and at one of the cute waiters (who spoke no English). This was a group of men in their twenties and thirties living a lifestyle unimagined fifteen years ago in Communist China. They are out in the full light of this megalopolis, no longer confined to furtive alleys, seedy dark parks or badgered by police harassment. These gay yuppies ('guppies') are the faces, the voices and the lifestyle of today's (and tomorrow's) gay middle class Chinese.

Although, unlike the gay west with confident and strident sounds to its public march toward equal rights, the collective Chinese voice is, for now, a muted intimate voice heard mostly among such friends who keep close company while they lead industrious lives often as fulfilled as any westerner.

Forging a Community

It could be said these descriptions ignore the heavy reality of Communist rejection of homosexuality. There is no permission for the formation of any public activist group. There is barely any acknowledgment from the medical community that sexual orientation has valid variations. Except for one newsletter, obliquely called "Friends" (which never uses the words 'gay' or 'homosexuality') there are no gay publications for the entire lesbigay population throughout China. Even the respected Exhibition for Chinese Ancient Sex Culture (the 'Sex Museum') in downtown Shanghai relegates homosexuality to a single, rather ambiguous display in its "Unusual Sexual Behavior" section.

But this is China. Contradiction and change infuse its lifestream at the dawn of this new century. Despite such official resistance, I read a story in the English language newspaper, 'China Daily' about the upcoming Gay Games in Sydney in 2002. The article focused on the fact the Games expect to draw more athletes than the regular Olympics did in Sydney in 2000.

Scattered around town are several (quiet) gay bars and clubs. I had dinner at 'Kevin's at Vogue' off Hengshan Road and a drink at 'Eddie's' at the fabulous Grand Hyatt. Both were fashionably designed and were patronized by guppie (gay yuppie) clients sitting around chatting in subdued voices with soft Sino-pop music in the background.

As for dancing and discos, a friend sent me this comment recently: "There has been all-gay ballroom dancing room in Shanghai for some time. For some uncertain reasons, (maybe the organizer's social status, or the income level of customers) it caters to working class (low-income) gays. The organizer usually rents a 'sleazy' dancing place located in an unpopular area (for low rent), and charges very little for admission--only 5 yuan (60 cents) which includes a cup of tea.

"For higher class gay people with better incomes, there are at least two mixed disco bars. One is Real Love which has been popular for quite a few years, on Hengshan Road. The other is Park 97; it has become popular more recently.

"These two places have not been harassed by police so far, perhaps because they are mixed. However, similar bars in the past have received demands from police to be shut down, for reason not associated with gayness, but rather for drugs or prostitution.

"The scene at both discos is very active in a gay/straight social way. They are very well lit and decorated with nice atmosphere. There are many Chinese young people and quite a few expatriates. Straight people are generally open-minded about the gays and lesbians there. However, you don't get to see gays very intimately there. They just dance there. The charges are pretty expensive, about USD$5 for a drink."

Network vs Scene

Such activity reveals that gay China today is reasonably alive. But it is not a public movement; it is, rather, a vast network of friends and contacts throughout the country in frequent and abundant communication with one another. There is not a major or minor city where these networks don't extend. Friends are everywhere. Connecting them now are the invisible frequencies of cell phones and the Internet-which also connects them beyond China to companions abroad as well.

Before I left home, I e-mailed a friend whose uncle lived in Shanghai. A day later I received the uncle's e-mail address from my friend. I then sent a note to 'Uncle Fang' and within a week I had an invitation to join him for dinner after I arrived. That same day I logged on to gaychina.com to see news and personal ads written mostly by gay Chinese looking to hook up with other Chinese guys or foreigners. This site is one of a number of sites, some of which are in Chinese some in English. A burgeoning virtual community is happening daily.

But the paranoid government censors are not asleep. It's not unusual to log on to such a website one day and then try again the next only to see that it can't be found. So a different one starts up in a game of cyber cat-and-mouse.

Despite such annoyances, a community of like-minded souls forms itself over time. Given natural sexual attraction, economic opportunity, high tech communication and gradual erosion of the edgy Communist system, a queer community is arising. Chinese lesbigays here will coalesce in the not-too-distant future. They will be apolitical at first, yet clearly pushing the cranky old system for some recognition, respect and equality within their ancient culture.

This movement will likely come about with far less violence than the gay community has faced in the West. The difference is religion-- the lack of it. For the past 60 years, China has been stripped of it religions, mainly Buddhism (although the restraints have now loosened), but more significantly it has forbidden the spread of Bible-based and Koran-based religions which inject their minions with distorted dogma about sexual orientation.

Granted there has been cultural opposition to homosexuality in China, especially in the past 60 years, but much of this has emerged out of passive and fearful ignorance rather than aggressive legal/religious intolerance. For all the ills that Communism has wrought on this country, it's ironic that stripping the country of religion now leaves China with less 'self-righteous' fanaticism against homosexuality than other highly religious-ized cultures such as the USA or Saudi Arabia.

Prosperity and Poverty

Free enterprise will soon be in charge of China, not the Communist Party. During my visit to the northeast cities of Harbin, Dalian, Qingdao, as well as Beijing and Shanghai, it became clear that China is heading quickly down a fast and slippery course into economic freefall which the government is unprepared and unable to control.

The prosperity of these cities--reflected in new highways, sleek skyscrapers, SUVs, cell phones, an infinity of commercial goods, vast blocks of upscale apartments-is the tip of an iceberg that's getting bigger by the month. In each of these cities there are bloated shopping centers, expanding suburbs and roads, new airports, modern buses, glass and granite hotels patronized by an emerging middle class which is far outstripping the life quality of the bigger and poorer populations of rural China.

(The shadow side of this prosperity, as reported in Asia Week, is that much of this new commerce involves illegal manufacturing and trade--counterfeiting name brands and pirating patented products sold all across Asia.)

A small slice of the gay 'underlife' of this iceberg was partially depicted in the 1998 film 'East Palace, West Palace'. This grim black and white film tells the story of an alienated gay hustler and his anxiously depressed captor, a bullying and emotionally rigid policeman who flirts semiconsciously with his sexy captive.

It is a grim scenario of erotic secrecy, shame and humiliation focused on a gay character who lives outside the privileges of education and profit. Like so many disenfranchised and impoverished peasants, including gays from the countryside, he is hobbled by China's restrictive work permit regulations that require documents of permission to work in the cities-a feudal and unfair method of keeping provincial workers from swamping the job markets in the cities.

Poorer gays--and straights--nevertheless sneak into Shanghai from the hinterlands without much education seeking work as laborers in construction or in the food industry. Their only hope for sexual intimacy is an occasional furtive quickie; they usually know nothing about gay relationships or gay camaraderie. Others, more street savvy, come to the city to offer their hides as money boys where job security and quality of life, like dreams, are mere whispers and shadows.

Sitting on benches in the early evening near the glowing Shanghai Museum, the 'boys' are all the more poignant for their impoverished sex appeal. Such underprivilege is felt more sharply among the hustle and bustle of fashionable, money-shuffling Shanghai. Poverty and sex have always traveled and travailed closely together. Provincial gay life in China is a very different story than modern urban life; for now it is a sad tale with little hope or redemption.

Gay Love Problems

My friend Jason and I approached Mr. Chang's restaurant along a narrow alley squeezed between old Shanghai buildings left over from the European days when opium was the prize commodity. Just off Hengshan Road with its long rows of poplar trees overhanging the busy traffic, trendy cafes and neon-framed clubs. Chang's is set back in an anonymous alley that leads to the bright lights and bevel glass doors of the popular restaurant. Jason and I sat in one of several dining rooms sorting through a menu with a hundred or more items ranging from fried chicken feet to jelly-fish heads, but he mercifully selected half a dozen less exotic delicacies for dinner.

Jason is very fluent in English and can delineate the subtle aspects of relationships and life which gay men in modern Shanghai experience daily. This particular evening he is pleased and feels especially grateful because he has found a loving relationship after years of wondering and looking. "I am very happy that Stan and I get along so well. It has long been my dream to find a man who offers back what I give." I agree with him. Jason is a caring person who has extended his warmth and kindness each time we have met.

He met Stan through a friend and both sensed in each other a lack of 'attitude' or posturing so common in public gay bars and clubs. They both felt at ease with each other; there was no devious or manipulative effort. "He treats me with such gentleness. He is intelligent and listens well. He is sensitive to others who are poorer than he is--and I think he is so handsome," Jason explains as his dark eyes look up trying to capture in words the elusive elements of romance.

As he spoke, I thought this is the new heart of gay China--two men in love with each other and realistically expecting a future of fused dreams. They are not alone in this vision: several of their friends have succeeded in holding together love relationships for years.

Do your parents know you are gay, I asked?

"In China we have what you call 'don't ask, don't tell,' he replied. My family knows but they don't talk about it with me. My mother has said she wants me to be happy and I think that's her way of saying she knows. But I still have to be careful. In China, gossip about a person's family is the worst punishment--worse than violence. I would never want to embarrass them with my sexuality... But we're still close and I see them every week."

Does Stan's family know he is gay?

"Stan told his sister and his sister told his mother. His father probably knows but won't say anything to Stan. He loves Stan and knows that he's a good son and appreciates the respect he shows. Stan's mother said she only wants Stan to be 'safe and natural'. I think she meant that he shouldn't dress or act in an extravagant manner. It's probably some stereotype she has about gays from TV. Stan and I visit his family every other week so I bring gifts for his parents... I heard they like me and think I'm a 'good catch' for him!"

Class Distinctions in China

Jason and Stan's relationship also raises an important issue that influences their long-term potential: class. Stan works six days a week in a restaurant. He has no high school diploma and earns about US$250 a month. He doesn't mind this modest work life and has little desire to aspire to a higher 'career'. On the other hand, Jason works five days a week for a multinational corporation, travels abroad, has a college degree and intends to get an MBA; he earns more than four times Stan's salary, a very good wage in modern China.

The potential problem is silent but forceful: in China there are distinct economic divisions among the working public. Low, middle and upper classes are real , despite three generations of supposed egalitarian Communism that should have leveled the field. (It never did since power is a corrupting force and the Communist leaders still live like princes.)

Now, with the sweeping economic changes churning among (some of) China's billion-plus masses, class distinctions have become even more pronounced; there are now more princes and a lot more paupers--and the distinctions are even more evident now.

This was evident to Jason when he first introduced Stan to his friends one evening for dinner. It was the first time Stan the waiter had met this circle of college educated, career-track professionals with hefty incomes.

Seated around the table were a doctor, dentist, journalist, travel agent, an executive-level employment consultant and a marketing supervisor. Strangely, even among these loving friends, Jason and Stan felt a slight uneasiness-- even though everyone was cordial and friendly. A few days later, Jason noticed that no one said anything to him afterwards about Stan. No playful kidding about Stan's good looks. No campy gossip about their budding romance. Their silence seemed to speak of an unexpressed--and very likely unintended-- attitude toward this working class lover.

But silence can work both ways: it can discern and divide but it can also leave open a door of possibility for movement in ideas and feelings. None of the friends disliked Stan and he was polite and friendly toward them. They were also very aware that their dear friend Jason had wanted a relationship so they expressed sincere happiness for him and Stan, at least during that evening together.

In the subsequent months, Jason reported, "most
of my friends have changed their reactions as they see how happy we are together."

But Jason is realistic about the future and he expressed some of his own doubts. Stan is not interested in career-track corporate life. His ambitions lie within his own hands-on efforts and experience as a food industry worker. He will always earn considerably less than Jason and the relationship will always be unbalanced financially. To complicate matters, Jason is considering the possibility of immigrating to Canada some day and is, of course, concerned how Stan can fit into this plan. It's a potential impasse which he said he would take one day at a time. For now, he is joyful to be still falling in love.

Finally

The story is about modern gay men in modern Communist China. There are new opportunities, new feelings and new choices that have never been available before to these folks. They are also engaged not just with many of the constraints and encumbrances of a cranky governmental system, but with some of the same age-old challenges of love, friendship and livelihood.
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Gay Scene · Guest

Shanghai is constantly shedding its old skin for a gleaming high-tech razzle-dazzle that proclaims its official party slogan, "progress is the irrefutable argument". This presents complications for visitors who find that their guidebooks, published last year, are now hopelessly out of date. Our local guides will ensure that you can navigate the waves of change and help you discover the wide-eyed wonders of Space Age Shanghai.

Private transfer from the airport to your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, take a stroll in any direction and encounter a cross-section of Shanghai's history, from European-style tree-lined avenues and Russian-influenced merchant shophouse architecture, to hyper-modern shopping avenues where gray communist clothing shops are gradually giving up the ghost for Big Mac outlets. Our local guide is available to join you for dinner and introduce you to the local gay scene tonight or on another night during your stay (Friday or Saturday nights are busiest). Don't miss a chance to stroll along the spectacular Bund, China's former Wall Street in anything-goes pre-communist days, with beautiful old flapper-era banks and hotels lining the riverfront and new Shanghai rising like a futuristic space port on the opposite side of the river.

Breakfast at your leisure. At 10am your guide will collect you. Your tour is free-plan, so your guide can suggest sightseeing to match your personal interests, but we recommend that first-time visitors see the following places at some time during their stay...

Longhua Ta is the most colorful temple in Shanghai (give the Jade Buddha temple a skip) and morning, when the monks are most active, is a great time to visit. It's in the suburbs, a short ride by elevated super highway (a great way to get a sense of Shanghai's spaceage sprawl). You should also visit the beautifully maintained Ming dynasty pleasure garden at Yu Yuan and afterwards stroll around the kitschy Lao Jie shopping avenue -- a sort of Disney version of old China for the modern masses (but don't buy the overpriced souvenirs being hawked here). A better place to bargain for gifts and antiquey items is Dongtai Road, which retains its original Shanghainese ambience of crumbling merchant tenements and old curio shops (visit now before this place gets an official scrub-up like the Duolun walking avenue). Streetside noodle shops offer one of Shanghai's most delicious pleasures: fried and steamed dumplings. Careful, these pleasure bombs have a tendency to explode when bitten into (to the delight of laughing locals who know to bend low over their plates while noshing). For those shop-a-holics craving cheap faux-brand goods, we know a local market specializing in well-made knock-offs (or "copywrong" products as your guide will joke). People's Square is home to more spectacular architecture, including the fabulous Shanghai Museum with its must-see collections of superb Chinese traditional arts. Late afternoon and evenings are a good time to visit Xintiandi, a trendy complex of boutique shops and restaurants housed in restored heritage buildings. Our favorite way to cap off the day is sipping a cappuccino at Starbucks over on the Pudong side of the river while taking in the sunset over the Bund.

http://www.purpledrag.com/china/spaceage.htm

Gay Scene · Guest

China is a large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq km. China was only partially open to the world from 1980 onwards and has been a communist country for many decades. Although there is much progress in the travel industry and infrastructure of China, there remain areas that need to be improved before it can match the level that most tourists would require.
However, much of the fun remains that it is different from the rest of the world. China will be the host nation for the Olympics in Year 2008. Travel facilities and infrastructure will be improving quickly as we approach Year 2008.

China is rich in culture and history. Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip Chinese tea in Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in Yunnan, check out 19th Century European buildings in Qingdao - there are just so much to do and see in China!

Below are some travel tips to make your travel in China easier:

Entry Visa

China require entry visa from most countries. Apply at the Chinese consulate or through your travel agent before travelling to China.

Climate

Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be prepared with the right seasonal clothing.

Foreign Exchange

The unit of currency is known as Renmembi(RMB) or Yuan. Get some Chinese Yuan in your local country before travelling. When in China, exchange foreign currency for local currency in the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend to give slightly better rates than hotels. Take note that some banks close for a noon siesta between 12-2pm.

Payment facilities

Most better class hotels and shopping centres take Credit Card or Travellers cheques. Smaller hotels and shops take cash only. Once out of the bigger cities, credit card and ATM cards tend to be almost impossible to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese business and trade.

Counterfeit notes are common in China. Check carefully before accepting change, especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You can feel a texture difference where counterfeit notes is concerned.

Understanding of English

Most civil servants, custom officials, police, hotel staff and men in the street do not speak English or at best a smattering of English.

Most signboards and notices will carry both English and Chinese. However, be aware that some translations can be so notorious that one can hardly understand what was it's original Chinese intention.

Do not expect hotels or shops to understand English. Only the very big hotels will have staff that will understand English.

Most young people can understand basic English if you speak slowly.

Social Security

China is generally a safe country. However, hang on tight to your wallet especially in crowded, popular tourist sites in tourist cities such as Beijing and Xian.

These tourist cities also has a lot of touts in the streets touting tourist from currency exchange to jewelleries to female companionships. Avoid at all cost!

Domestic Travel

Bus, train, ferries and domestic flights are quite well developed. Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your tickets through the hotel tour desk or the nearest tour agent. Prices are likely to be competitive and tickets will be delivered to your hotel room. Again, avoid ticket touts who approach you in the streets.

Local buses are cheap (US$0.10 or YS$0.20) and you may want to try out. Taxis are convenient and are available at all hours. Starting fares differ from each city and may be as cheap as US$0.70 in Weihai and US$1.50 in Shenzhen.

Avoid travel in China during peak holiday seasons or book tickets well ahead.

Local Hotels

There is a good choice of hotels in China ranging from one star to the most luxurious 6 stars. Most of the time, the rooms are safe and clean and in my opinion, cheap does not mean bad.

There are many websites selling China hotel rooms on the internet. You can also check out the travel counters which are available in most train, bus stations as well as airport.

Book ahead if travelling in peak seasons.

Peak Tourist Seasons

Chinese New Year: Date varies but generally late January or early February. May Day: First two weeks of May China National Day: Middle two weeks of October

Avoid travelling during these period. Book rooms and travel modes way early if need to travel. Believe me, the crowds during these period of time will be scary. What do you expect when the entire Chinese nation of 8 billion people are on holiday as well!

Chinese Food

Local food is absolutely fabulous. Try as much Chinese food as your wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are available everywhere and open to late hours. Most restaurants will have a menu that include photographs of the various dishes. Better yet, simply point at the food that your next door table is having, especially if it looks delicious!

However, avoid street side stalls and drinking directly from the taps if you have delicate stomach.

Telecommunications
Mobile phone coverage in China is good in most locations. Global auto-roaming within China is not a problem.

Internet

There are cyber-cafes everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. Most are patronised by young people playing online games but you still can check your Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. Access may be a bit slow for international websites.

You will need to show your passport as China has tight regulations at Internet Cyber Cafes.

Toilet facilities

One of the worst experience many has with China is the atrocious toilet facilities. Things has improved very much but it may still be a good idea to empty your stomach or bladder at every opportunity in a hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose hazard!

* Useful China travel tips *

Try to get a English speaking tour guide at every opportunity you can. China has a rich and wonderful history and culture and without a guide, somehow, the flavour and significance of most tour sites can be lost.

Always ask for a receipt from a taxi driver so that you can complain if you have been cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to leave your camera behind in the taxi.

Try to take the namecard for each hotel that you are staying at as these cards will have a Chinese address and the map of your hotel location. This is useful if you need to seek assistance to find your way back as the English version or pronounciation of a hotel or a street name may be quite different from the Chinese version.

After a tiring day, check out Chinese foot reflexology or Chinese TuiNa (Chinese massage). Wonderful for the body after a hard day and very cheap to boot. Simply look out for shop signs that shows two feet! They are everywhere.

Make friends with the Chinese whenever you can. They love to meet foreigners and will make good tour guides. Just buy a small present as a small token of appreciation.

Oogleman · Site Admin Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 4141

Show on gay themes to go online in China

Hong Kong - A Chinese Web site will present what its producer describes as the country's first show to focus on gay issues and the first with an openly homosexual host. The weekly hourlong Internet TV show, "Tongxing Xianglian," or "Connecting Homosexuals," is scheduled to make its debut Thursday on www.phoenixtv.com, the producer, Gang Gang, said in a phone interview. The Web site is run by the same company that owns Phoenix Satellite TV. Gang said clips from the online show will be aired on the satellite station.

Gang said that while homosexuals have appeared on Chinese TV shows, this will be the first to focus on gay issues and the first with an openly gay host, Didier Zheng, an AIDS educator and activist. He said he hopes that the Beijing-based show will improve public understanding of Chinese homosexuals.

"There are many people in China's gay community, but people don't have a deep enough understanding about this community," Gang said. "This community faces a lot of trouble and difficulties. They face a lot of pressure." Homosexuals in China were heavily persecuted after the 1949 Communist revolution, when they were condemned as products of decadent Western and feudal societies.

Official attitudes have changed gradually since the late 1980s; in 2001, the Chinese Psychiatric Association stopped listing homosexuality as a mental illness. The new show will explore homosexuality from legal, parental and sociological perspectives and will deal with issues like gay marriage, Gang said. The program will also feature a friend-matching segment. It is not known whether the show will face censorship.

Though the Communist government promotes Internet use, it has also set up an extensive surveillance and filtering system to prevent Chinese from accessing material considered obscene or politically subversive.

from: globalgayz
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Blogger · Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 128

A friend tells me there are a ton of new gay bars in Beijing & Shanghai but its hard to find many on the web. Anyone got any good links?

Oogleman · Site Admin Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 4141

Destination (Beijing, gay dance club)
Shanghai Studio (Shanghai, gay bar)
Club Deep (Shanghai, gay dance club, American co-owned)
Eddy's Bar (Shanghai, gay bar)
Bobo's Bar (Shanghai, gay bear bar)
Hunter's Bar (Shanghai, Japanese owned gay bar)
Pinkhome (Shanghai, gay bar/dance club/ hotel)
Shanghai's Door (Shanghai, gay massage parlor)
Mr. Muscle Massage (Shanghai, gay massage parlor)
200 (Shanghai, lesbian bar)
Frangipani (Shanghai, gay/lesbian bar)
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Ting&Tong · Site Admin Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 1874

ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Central China's Henan Province has started to give free checkups to homosexual men with an aim to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially HIV/AIDS, among the group.

It is the first time for a provincial-level government to sponsor such tests, which covers HIV/AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis,the provincial disease control and prevention center has said.

The tests are part of a research project jointly conducted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Health Ministry,

Wang Zhe, vice director of the center, said the tests will be given in seven to ten days, covering 200 male homosexuals. The results will be analyzed by researchers to gain more knowledge about the prevalence of STDs among the group of people.

Along with the health examinations, the organizers will also hand out questionnaires to learn about their families, marital status, sex orientation and behaviors.

Since Chinese homosexuals are mostly living in "closets" and not willing to be exposed, the center will work with local volunteering groups for homosexuals to recruit participants.

The respondents will be anonymous and their information be kept confidential, said Wang.

"I would like to take such tests. To know more about my health is responsible to myself and my partner as well," said an unidentified respondent.

The research project will be concurrently launched in eight other cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing and Nanjing. Enditem
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Tuk Tuk · Guest

from china daily

At least 80 percent of China's estimated five to 10 million gays believe they are safe from HIV/AIDS, according to the country's first ever survey on the homosexual group.

The survey, conducted by the center of AIDS control and prevention under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with its branch office in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, found 80.6 percent of the gay men are totally ignorant of their exposure to the virus or underestimate the risk.

Lu Fan, chief of the center of AIDS control and prevention, said that among all sexually active Chinese men, approximately two to four percent are gays, and as many as 1.35 percent of those are infected with the AIDS virus.

The figure proves the high risk of the disease in the world's most populous country, said Lu. "The gay community is one of the most vulnerable groups but they have long been ignored in China," he added.

Infection rates among gay men were expected to rise rapidly unless prevention efforts were taken because many of them have extremely limited knowledge of the disease, practice unprotected sex and have multiple sex partners, said Lu.

About 50 percent of Chinese gays have more than one partner and some have had more than 100, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, the facts that 17.4 percent of the gays also have female partners and 12.6 percent of them are married have increased the likelihood for the virus to spread to heterosexuals and their offspring, said Wu Yuhua, a researcher with the Heilongjiang provincial center for disease control and prevention.

While the gay community in general knows little about HIV and AIDS, the little they know largely comes from TV, radio, newspapers and magazines and only 16.6 percent of the gays surveyed say they've been told by doctors, said Wu.

The expert therefore urged public health authorities and the general public to have a balanced attitude toward the homosexuals and make HIV/AIDS knowledge more available.

The survey was conducted in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang. Information was largely collected from pubs, parks, public bathrooms, squares, cyber cafes and other public places. Chinese gays tend to shrink from revealing themselves in public for fear of prejudice and pressure from society and it's quite difficult to collect their information.

Gay Scene · Guest

BEIJING — Chinese authorities have banned two late-night radio shows that discussed sex and drugs for damaging young people and being "extremely pornographic," continuing the recent crackdown on free expression in China.
The latest order follows a ban on TV shows about cosmetic surgery and sex changes, and the shutdown of a "coarse" talent show.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said on its website Wednesday that two radio stations in the Sichuan province "aired programs about sex and drugs for two to three hours after 9 p.m. every day."

"The programs contained extremely pornographic material, caused great harm to the psychological development of young people, fouled the social air, and damaged the reputation of China's broadcasting institutions," the report said.

The stations were ordered to suspend the shows immediately and punish the producers. The shows were not named in the report.

Late-night call-in programs featuring sexually explicit conversations and ads for enhancement drugs are common in China. Most are advice shows that help callers with issues such as sexual performance or sexually transmitted diseases. Reports said that the shows are tame compared to programs in the U.S. and callers generally do not go into explicit detail.

Reporters made calls to the stations, Sichuan People's Broadcasting and Chengdu People's Broadcasting, but they went unanswered.

Last month, a talent show, "The First Time I Was Touched," was banned for being vulgar and lacking in artistic standards.

From XBIZ

Oogleman · Site Admin Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 4141

Two bold young men kiss each other during a kissing contest held by a Beijing department store on the Valentine's Day in 2006.

Two homosexual Chinese tell of the challenge they face, and their hopes for a day when they will no longer be judged.

Name: Tong Ge

Age: 57

Occupation: Writer and independent researcher

Tong Ge was married to a woman for more than 20 years, and has raised a son.

But Tong is gay.

"If I could turn back time, I would never have married a woman," he sighs.

"Even though my wife has forgiven me, I cannot forgive myself, and feel guilty all the time."

Tong says he has been attracted to the same sex since he was a boy. The son of a rich family, Tong was sent to the countryside to learn from farmers during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

His best friend, a former classmate, was willing to follow him. No matter how tough the living conditions got, no matter how poor they were, they were always deeply attached to each other.

One day after both had been drinking, they had sex for the first time.

"It had never crossed our mind that we were gay, and also we had no idea how to define our behavior," Tong recalls.

Two years later, his friend was called to the city. It would be the darkest moment in Tong's life - having to say farewell to his first lover.

"It might sound silly nowadays," he says with a laugh. "But I have missed him a lot over the years."

At age 27, Tong went back to the city, where he was astonished to discover scores of secret places where gay men met at night, such as public parks and toilets.

According to Tong, the phenomenon emerged in the mid-1970s when the "cultural revolution" had yet to come to an end.

"The more you try to oppress sex, the more resistance will rise up," he explains.

He says that men rarely used condoms at the time. "They were not available in any shops. Only the birth control offices of Stated-owned companies had them, and of course it was impossible for us to ask," he says.

Tong declined to explain what drove him to tie the knot, except to say "in the past, it was right and proper to get married when people reached a certain age".

Tortured by his double life, Tong studied various medical books, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Finding no answers, he decided that the only way he could live with himself was to confess to his wife.

"I thought she would be furious after I told her," he recalls. "However, she said that she had known it for a long time."

Tong was waiting for his wife to ask for a divorce, but she chose to stay with him. He says that despite their past difficulties, their relationship remains strong.

"A lot of Chinese gay men have had similar experiences," he says.

As an independent researcher, Tong has devoted himself to the academic study of homosexuality, not only from a social perspective, but also how to best combat AIDS.

"My goal is to make a general report on Chinese gay relationships," he says

Name: Ruo Zhe

Age: 33

Occupation: Webmaster of the first gay website www.gztz.org in China

Ruo Zhe used to think he was a monster, because of his attraction to the same sex. He even tried having a girlfriend at university, even though he knew that he felt nothing for her. "It's like your left hand touching your right hand," Ruo says.

The Beijing native decided to leave for Guangzhou after graduating from university, partly because there were job prospects and partly because he didn't want his parents to discover the truth. In 1997, he spent all his savings on a computer, which led him to a bigger world than he had ever imagined. "By visiting foreign websites, I realized that I was not the only gay man in the world," he says.

In order to meet other gay men, Ruo put his personal information both in English and Chinese on the Internet. A few months later, someone responded. Rather than feeling overjoyed, Ruo says that the prospect of meeting anyone face to face was terrifying. "I do care about being called a gay man in public, therefore emails are safer for me," he admits.

Eventually he met more men after being taken by a foreign friend to a local gay bar. "I was shocked to see so many people there. It seemed like a totally different world, where people all looked so relaxed, chatting and smiling," he says.

Ruo then launched the first Chinese website for gay people at the end of 1998, which aims to provide a platform for people to meet each other. The website offers news, health tips, entertainment listings and overviews of gay and lesbian communities in other countries.

Despite being the only full-time staff, Ruo says hundreds of people have offered to help out. The current registered membership has grown rapidly and now stands at 220,000. According to Ruo, most of these are young people aged between 20 and 30, up to 80 percent of whom are college educated.

Ruo has been living with his partner for six years. Even so, they seldom show their affections - such as holding hands - in public. "I know many gay men don't dare to do it either, because of social pressure," he says. "We have to wait till someday when we are accepted."

Ruo hopes to buy a car for his partner, dreaming of the day when they can drive wherever they want, listening to their favorite music.
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Ting&Tong · Site Admin Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 1874

INTERNET-BASED PHONE SWINDLE

China sends back 42 Thai suspects

Bangkok Post.

More than three dozen Thais caught in a region-wide internet-based telephone swindle have been sent home from China to face charges. A total of 42 Thai suspects were sent back to face charges in Thailand for using internet-based telephone services to swindle people throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) said yesterday the raid on the China-based gang and the repatriation of the 42 suspects was a collaborative effort with police in China.

CIB chief Pol Lt-Gen Somyos Phumphanmuang said the raid was carried out in March. The 42 Thai suspects _ 24 men and 18 women _ were among hundreds of foreign workers at a call centre company in Shantou in China.

They would telephone people all over Asia using the voice over internet protocol (VoIP) system to deceive them into transferring money out of their accounts.

Their victims in Thailand alone have lost about 100 million baht, police said.

The worst case involved one person who was talked into transferring 600,000 baht. Police claimed the workers would telephone different Thai phone numbers and fabricate stories which were designed to convince people to transfer money to the gang's accounts.

Pol Lt-Gen Somyos said the gang used many tricks such as claiming the victims owed money to banks, had won a lottery jackpot or received a tax refund from the Revenue Department. In all cases, the victims would be told to transfer their money to the gang first before receiving their benefits.

The victims included Chinese, Taiwanese, Koreans and Malaysians.

''People need to be careful when receiving a phone call like this, and should remember that there is nothing free in this world,'' warned the CIB chief.

A 19-year-old suspect said that early this year he received a phone call urging him to work in China. The man making the job offer did not say what the work involved, but said it would involve a good salary of about 20,000 baht a month and free accommodation.

After arriving in China, his passport was seized by the Chinese business owner. A six-storey building had been set up as the call centre with tight security at the entrances and exits.

The man, who would not reveal his name, said a common conversation went: ''I am calling from [X] Bank, and you owe them some money.''

He said he would intimidate the victims, whose financial accounts were gathered by the gang, by saying legal action was being planned and they faced blacklisting by credit agencies. To avoid the consequences, the victims had to transfer money to pay some of the debt.
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gwm4asian · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 92

There are quite a lot of gay places springing up in Shenzhen, and some of them advertise on gayhk www.gayhk.com

For instance, http://69.56.178.13/SzQualityMen/hk/
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