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Gays live a difficult life under social bias
By Raymond Zhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-06 06:25 New trends
Another hazard of shaming gays back into the closet is the emergence of "gay
for pay", or "money boys" who are not really gay but offer sexual services for
money and are often involved in extortion schemes. These people take advantage
of gay people's fears that their true identity will be uncovered. As a
consequence, robberies and even murders have been reported.
The Dongdan Park in
downtown Beijing is reportedly a gathering venue for gays in the
city. [baidu] |
According to Zhang Beichuan, a
Qingdao-based expert on the issue, 38 per cent of gays have been hurt because of
their sexual encounters; 21.3 per cent have been hurt by straight lovers and 21
per cent have been victimized when their identity was exposed, suffering
insults, beatings or blackmail.
For all the negative news, life for gays in China has improved on the whole.
The Internet plays a big part. Gays used to believe they were the only ones in
the world who were different, and now they can turn to online communities for
help, to socialize, and date. Many love stories have been posted on the net, and
many people find that homosexual love can be just as romantic, passionate or
heart-breaking as a heterosexual affair.
Gay bars have sprung up all over the metropolitan landscape. Here people can
mingle in a normal setting, away from sleazy bathrooms and dirty public toilets
where they are putting their health at risk. But "money boys" often mar the
scene instead.
Most encouraging are the hotlines and health centres that have cropped up in
cities like Shenzhen, Chongqing and Hangzhou. Homosexuals can consult
specialists for psychological and medical help. Tests for HIV and venereal
diseases are offered free, with guaranteed anonymity.
Meanwhile, Gu Du has not given up hope of his parents' acceptance. But each
time he calls them, they hang up.
He should probably send them a book by Li Yinhe, China's top expert on
homosexuality, or words by Wang Xiaobo, Li's late husband who was himself a
renowned social commentator: "Any sexual relationship that is long-term, stable
and built on love should be respected. Gays should take a positive attitude
towards life."
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