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Tag: China

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Man Arrested For Killing Six Men; Hookups Made Online - BDSM Sex Games

A former pub singer in China’s Hunan province is suspected of coaxing six men to hang themselves while playing sex games. Zhou Youping (age 38 - photo right) is awaiting prosecution and facing murder charges regarding a series of hangings between October and November in Hunan’s capital Changsha. At least six of the cases involved deaths of men who were from out of town. No suicide note was found. Police found that Zhou had booked rooms under a pseudonym in two budget hotels where two of the six victims hanged themselves. He was arrested in November and confessed that he was responsible for the deaths of the six men whom he had met online. Zhou was a frequent visitor to an online chat room set up for homosexual relationships and he promised cash as well as other rewards. He demanded that the men should be his slaves in the hanging games, a media wire report said. He, however, said he watched for enjoyment and had nothing to do with the men before leaving the room. He said he left them to die as he hated them for their desire for money and other rewards. Three men survived Zhou’s hanging games.
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Shanghai's Openness Offers Hope to China's Gays

By Marianne Barriaux (AFP): SHANGHAIIn a shabby hall in a working-class area of Shanghai, dozens of men slow dance to a ballad, enjoying a few hours in the company of other homosexuals before going home -- many to their wives. Every weekend evening, men of all ages pay seven yuan (one dollar) to waltz, rumba and be themselves -- no small feat in China, where homosexuals still face crushing social and familial pressure. "If you're gay and people find out in my hometown, everything is over," said Leon, a 28-year-old tour guide from the eastern province of Anhui who has lived in Shanghai for 10 years, is married and has a boyfriend on the side. "But in Shanghai, there are a lot of people like us and places like this -- it's a good city for us." Homosexuality has long been a sensitive issue in China, where it was officially considered a mental disorder until 2001, but experts and gays say there has been marked improvement. "In the past, even in the early 2000s, gay bars in normal cities would often be subject to police interference," said Zhang Beichuan, a Qingdao University professor and an expert on homosexuality. "Now the situation has changed... One can do lots of things more openly." Shanghai is considered by some as the 'gay capital' of China, boasting trendy bars, clubs and even sport teams such as swimming and volleyball squads for homosexuals. The city also discreetly hosted the nation's first gay pride festival last June. Although authorities cancelled some events, they allowed most to go ahead. Other cities in China are also opening up. A government-backed gay bar opened in December in Dali, a tourist town in the southwestern province of Yunnan. Experts estimate there are about 30 million gays and lesbians in China -- which would be just 2.3 percent of the population. Observers concede the number could be higher as many still refuse to come out. Back at the Lailai dance hall, as couples waltz on lino flooring under flashing green and red lights and tinsel, Ma Qun sits, quietly watching. The 75-year-old says he never married but also never dared find a boyfriend either, growing up as he did at a time when no one in the country even admitted homosexuality existed. "Now, though, there is no more pressure in my heart," he said with a smile. Experts say Chinese people's acceptance of homosexuality has increased thanks to the work done by non-governmental organisations, the media, some schools and the Internet to raise awareness and understanding. However, many are still unable to accept it, particularly in smaller cities and in the countryside. "The main reason lies in the fact that China really cares about continuing the ancestral line," said sexologist Li Yinhe, noting the impact of the country's one-child policy. "If you don't procreate, then the family will have no descendants. In China, the term 'juehu' (without descendants) is actually a swear word." Acknowledging this concern, some gays and lesbians in China are marrying each other to satisfy their parents' demands. One Shanghai bar even hosts 'matchmaking' sessions for gays and lesbians to meet with a view to tying the knot, said Kenneth Tan, spokesman for Shanghai LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender). And while China is mainly devoid of any religious influence that could lead to anti-gay discrimination, homosexuality is still not entirely accepted politically. In January, police cancelled the nation's first Mr Gay China beauty pageant in Beijing after it had attracted weeks of coverage both in foreign and domestic media. For Leon, family pressure is why he married his classmate and had a daughter, now two. He says his wife is unaware of his sexual preference. "Sometimes I feel a little sorry for my wife but how can I make up for it now? I can only support her with money and give her the best life possible," he said. The government has warned that homosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS is gaining pace, and people like Leon are causing particular worries in China. "We are concerned with the gays born in the 1970s and 80s, who were forced to marry straight women or are going to marry them," said Simon Tang of the Chi Heng Foundation, an AIDS prevention charity. "They are sexually active and thus a much more dangerous group to transmit HIV/AIDS to their wives." Experts say the Chinese government has invested heavily in AIDS prevention work in the gay community, but they add that anti-discrimination laws are sorely lacking. In Shanghai, Ma refused to reflect on a difficult past, and looked instead to the future. "I'm old, and I'm just satisfied that people can now come out and talk about it," he said.
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Chinese Police Shut Down Country's First Gay Pageant

The organizer of China's first Mr. Gay China pageant says police have forced him to cancel the event only hours before it was to begin, the Associated Press reports. The pageant, which featured a fashion show, Q&A and a host in drag, would have selected China's representative to the Worldwide Mr. Gay competition next month in Oslo. Ben Zhang, organizer of the event, said the Thursday night rehearsal at an upscale nightclub in Beijing went off without a problem,  but police arrived and said the Friday night pageant could not take place. "They said the content, meaning homosexuality, there nothing wrong with that, but you did not do things according to procedures," Zhang said.

Police told him he needed to apply for approval for events that included performances, in this case a stage show. Earlier, China Daily had quoted Zhang Beichuan, a professor at Qingdao University and an expert on homosexuality, as saying plans for the pageant had stirred up strong reaction on the Internet, with most denouncing the event as indecent, while others saying it would represent social progress. "Anyway, it reflects a more open and tolerant attitude of the country toward the gay community to host such an event," he said before the show was canceled.
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Government Supported Gay Bar Closes Before Opening

Gay_Chinese_MenHomosexual behavior has been viewed as a sin or a disease for countless ages all throughout the world, including China. And so when the first state-funded gay bar in Dali, Yunnan Province, southwest China was shut down a day before its opening due to a clinical outbreak of homophobia, it came as no surprise. Although gay bars have been operating in China for over 15 years, the stigma associated with homosexuality still exists, making it exceptionally hard for gays to come out the closet. What’s worse is that Yunnan province hosts over 23% of China’s HIV/AIDS infected population, despite only figuring into 3.5% of China’s total population. And according to Health Minister Chen Zhu, 32% of all HIV victims in China were infected from homosexual male-on-male sex. It was this fact that inspired local AIDs Doctor and bar-manager Zhang Jiambo to seek over 120,000 yuan from the Dali Prefecuture government to transform his gay bar into an educational “space where gay men could meet and socialize and also receive education on how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.” China Daily quoted Zhang as saying, “As a long-term medical worker in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, I know how hard it is for us to reach these groups to promote self-protection messages like safe sex.” The bar was due to officially launch on December 1st, better known as World AIDS Day; but was prematurely closed instead due to an extremely negative reaction from the general public. Extensive coverage of the bar prior to its opening by local news agencies — including Beijing News, China Central Television, and China Daily — was mainly to blame, as it put fear into the hearts of potential attendees and volunteer workers, provoking many to not even show up, lest they be publicly outed. In fact, some were already outed, even if they weren’t gay. The bar had opened up for trial operation in November, allowing Zhang’s AIDS volunteers an opportunity to try out their rehabilitative methods. Many had their pictures and names later posted in the news. One volunteer chronicled his experience: “When the CCTV journalists came to interview us, and report on the day-to-day work of AIDS volunteers, they did not let us see their report, they also did not seek or get the consent of the people they interviewed.” The result was that many of the volunteers found themselves as targets of homophobia, including being mocked and even repudiated by their peers. All of the media frenzy eventually led Zhang to cancel the grand opening. He explains, “They (gay men) refused to show up at the opening for fear of media exposure and potential discrimination. Had I known it, I would not have told the media.” Source: China Daily News Global
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China's first Gay Pride

chinaprideChina's first Gay Pride Week kicked off in Shanghai on Sunday, but without the customary street celebrations as organisers sought to maintain a low profile and steer clear of official approval. Instead, gays and lesbians in Shanghai will hold film screenings, workshops, art exhibitions and charity events, while an all-day party is scheduled for June 13, organiser Tiffany Lemay told the Associated Press.
"We have consulted a lawyer to determine how safe this is, and he suggested that we not apply for approval or consult with the government," Lemay said. "All of our events will be open to the public, but they will be held at private venues. So there will be no events in public spaces or in parks."
Homosexuality has long been a taboo subject in China with gay sex decriminalised only in 1997, while homosexual behaviour was officially viewed as a mental disorder until 2001. The event is largely being organised by foreign expatriates in Shanghai in coordination with the domestic Rainbow League, which boasts about 2,000 members, Lemay, 32, an American, said. The week-long event will raise funds through donations and corporate sponsorship for Hong Kong's Chi Heng Foundation with proceeds going to its China AIDS Orphan Project, she said. Promoting tolerance and acceptance for gay and lesbian lifestyles will be the theme of the week's events, Lemay added. Organisers estimate that there are up to 200,000 homosexuals in Shanghai and hope to draw up to 2,000 visitors to the week-long event. According to China Daily, there are up to 30 million gay men and women in China, just under 3 per cent of the nation's total population.
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Staying In The Closet

spencer_duhmOn the last installment of Survivor: Tocantins, gay contestant Spencer Duhm, 19 years old from Lakeland, Flordia was asked if he's interested in any of the women on the show and deflected the question. Duhm later explained:
"My tribemates are not aware that I'm gay. I haven't told them. Only because in the culture that we live in, there's nothing really to gain, or not much to gain from people finding out that you are gay. I don't like hiding it though. I would like to be able to have those conversations when we're talking about girls. I wouldn't mind, you know, makin' like 'Spencer, well what type of guy do you like' or something, but I know that that's not the best option for me in the game at this point, so..."
And it's even more drama going on: Survivor: China winner Todd Herzog revealed earlier this week that he and Duhm are dating.
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Another Gay Wedding

0013729e42ea0a99bfea1eYou may remember the story of the male-male penguin couple who were allowed to "adopt" an egg to raise (after trying to steal them from other penguin couples, so eager were they to be dads see the story here). Now the Polarland Zoo in Harbin, China (another country which, for the record, doesn't allow gay humans to marry) has granted the penguin couple a "wedding" as a "reward" for being successful parents. "One wore a tie and the other was dressed in a red blouse – a traditional Chinese bridal color -- as they stepped into their icy wedding room to the music of the Wedding March," The Sun reports (with adorable photos), "Keepers then served them their favorite dish for the occasion -- spring fish." 

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