Communication Article: Chinese authorities shut down gay pageant

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Communication: Chinese authorities shut down gay pageant

(Mon Jan 18th, 2010, by Gary Cosby)

Considering it was only declassified as a mental disorder there in 2001, China’s attitude towards homosexuality now seems to be positively skyrocketing.

Last year the first government backed gay bar opened in Kunming, in south-western Yunnan, and Shanghai held the first ever national gay pride celebration. Last week China Daily featured the ‘wedding’ of a male gay couple – in a positive light – on its front page.

This may seem meager progress but homosexuality was only decriminalized in China in 1997 – finally allowing its gay population to evolve.

Within the last decade an emerging gay community has set up its own support groups, websites and venues in most of the major cities.

However, world-wide media attention drawn by the country’s first ever Mr. Gay China pageant last Friday evening in Beijing proved a step too far for the authorities.

Just as the contestants were preparing backstage at the Lan Club eight police officers entered the venue and closed the competition down.

The event had garnered interest from the world media including London’s Guardian and The New York Times.

Gayographic, the PR company organising the event hoped that the pageant would contribute to gay visibility and the development of China’s gay community.

Although disappointed the organizers weren’t entirely surprised. Ben Zhang, head of the team managing the contest, said he knew the risks involved in holding such an event without official permission. He also believes that had he requested permission it would certainly have been refused.

Ryan Dutcher, an American and also one of the planners told The New York Times “We’re disappointed, to say the least.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a huge step backwards for the gay community,” he said, “but I guess it’s not a step forward, either.”

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