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Mr. Gay China – Pageant Raided by Police

Melanie Nathan Posting :- In beijing AP’s Anita Chang reports that  police shut down what would have been China‘s first gay pageant today, an hour before it was set to begin, highlighting the enduring sensitivity surrounding homosexuality and the struggle by gays to find mainstream acceptance in that Country. The organizers said they were not surprised when police officers turned up at the chic club in central Beijing where the pageant, featuring a fashion show and a host in drag, was set to take place.

The Police did not blame it on homosexuality inferring it would not have been a problem, but rather accused the organizers of failing to follow the proper  procedure which would have included obtaining permission for the event, because it included a performance, in this case a stage show.

Chinese officials are notorious for blocking gatherings often citing procedural irregularity.  Historically however, it seems ‘par for the course’ on politically sensitive issues. One is led to question what is political about a Pageant. Overtly nothing, hence it is indeed all about homosexuality.  Most people in China do not accept lesbians and gays and the LGBT community is slowly starting to emerge, even though they are aware of the pitfalls. This is indeed how movements start.  So from LGR we take our hats off to our brothers and sisters in China.   

AP reports that Organizer, Zhang had said he hoped the pageant would raise awareness of homosexuals in a country where gays are frequently discriminated against and ostracized. Eight men were competing for the title and a spot in the Worldwide Mr. Gay pageant, to be held next month in Oslo, Norway.  Interesting, it is reported that that they apparently sent 8 cops.  Wonder what they were thinking?

The Mr. Gay China pageant had attracted a great deal of press attention and even the normally staid state-run media reported on the event this week. The guests and fifty plus journalists left the location in disappointment with one contestant wearing a sign: “The revolution has not succeeded, comrades need to work harder.” ‘Comrade’ being the slang term for gays in China. Organizers still plan to find a way to send a contestant  to Oslo .

Gay rights in China have come a long way since the years just after the 1949 communist revolution when homosexuality was considered a disease from the decadent West and feudal societies, and gay people were persecuted. Sodomy was decriminalized in 1997, and homosexuality was finally removed from the official list of mental disorders in 2001.

But tellingly, most of the contestants interviewed asked The Associated Press to use their English names instead of Chinese names, to better protect their identities at home. While treatment of gays has improved in recent years, many are still reticent to draw attention to their homosexuality, particularly in the workplace.

China has one advantage (if I may be so bold) over gay rights in the USA.  They may well catch us up and even overtake us at the rate we are going because China is officially atheistic. There are no religious zealots to stand in the way and hence the attitudes may change once people become more visible and vocal; they will probably become indifferent to gays and lesbians in the foreseeable future. Gays living in said their biggest challenge is dealing with parents and deeply ingrained expectations for them to get married and have children. But we all know how to get around that one.

Perhaps that is all true yet some say it would be 10 years before anyone can successfully organize a gay pageant in China. That is probably 30 years quicker than what we have been able to accomplish since our movement, here in the US, started in earnest.

By; Melanie Nathan, Nathan@privatecourts.com / Thanks to  ANITA CHANG, Associated Press Writer Anita Chang, Associated Press Writer.

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