LGBTQ in China

A marginalised community fights for acceptance
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LGBTQ issues are still a taboo topic in China, and the community faces harsh consequences like ostracization, unemployment and even jail. However, the LGBTQ community is also fighting to be seen and heard, and many LGBTQ people are living openly and loudly amid growing acceptance from society.

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News
Opinion
First-grade students in hanfu hold up cards with the character “ren” meaning “person” during an initiation ceremony to learn about traditional culture at a primary school in Anlong county, Guizhou province, on August 28. Photo: AFP
Opinion
Opinion|China banning clothes that hurt national feelings would be a stitch too far
Proposal to criminalise clothes that hurt national feelings is a step too far. Concerns are already growing as young people wearing kimonos or T-shirts with rainbows are barred by security, even detained by police
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A gay Chinese couple tour a condominium block in Bangkok last month. Thailand is proving to be a huge draw for LGBTQ people from China who are frequently scorned and ostracised at home. Photo: AP
Southeast Asia
China’s LGBTQ tourists flock to Thailand to ‘forget all upsetting things’
Bangkok is only a five-hour flight from Beijing, and Thailand’s tourism authorities actively promote it as among the region’s most open destinations to LGBTQ people.
Censors have put the squeeze on the Chinese LGBTQ community, with the scrutiny getting tougher post-Covid. Photo: AFP
Politics
Chinese LGBTQ organisations look for ways to survive crackdown
LGBTQ groups in China battling increased censorship and police checks since Covid-19 pandemic
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Illustration: Eunice Tse
Diplomacy
The odd couple: German far right shows unlikely affinity for Communist China
China has embraced the relationship with the Alternative for Germany party, which sent a high-ranking delegation to Beijing and Shanghai for a week-long visit in June.
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Brian Leung, the host of Hong Kong’s recently cancelled LGBTQ radio show “We Are Family”, is “proud” of working on the show for 17 years, but wasn’t surprised when he found out it was going to be cancelled in July. Photo: Edmond So
Entertainment
‘I tried my very best’: host of Hong Kong’s axed LGBTQ radio show reflects
Brian Leung, the host of Hong Kong’s recently cancelled LGBTQ radio show We Are Family, reflects on 17 years of the programme, and why he’s not surprised about its abrupt axing.
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Authorities have urged people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated for mpox as soon as possible. Photo: AP
Health & Environment
‘No need to panic’ over Hong Kong’s spike in mpox cases, as vaccination centre opens
Concern groups urge individuals at risk to get vaccinated, and make sure to know their sex partners.
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Radio host and LGBTQ advocate Brian Leung predicts a “long winter” for the community after the demise of the RTHK show. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Society
RTHK cancels Hong Kong’s only LGBTQ radio show, ‘a step backward for community’
Host Brian Leung and others say show made a big impact on LGBTQ community by airing issues that mattered.
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Japan is the only G7 nation with no legal protection for same-sex unions. Photo: AFP
East Asia
Chinese diplomat causes stir in Japan after calling trans people ‘deformed’
Chinese consul general in Osaka Xue Jian said ‘tampering with gender is a deformity, not the evolution of human civilisation’.
A Beijing-based choir comprising members of the LGBT community prepares backstage before a concert during Shanghai’s Pride celebrations in June 2018. Photo: Simon Song
Opinion
Opinion|China’s LGBT community doesn’t need Western ‘gay pride’
For LGBT people in China, sexuality is part, not all, of who they are as their familial role and national identity take precedence. What they want most is love and acceptance, not pride parades.
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Taiwan has legislated to allow joint adoption by gay couples. Photo: Reuters
Politics
Taiwan grants joint adoption rights to same-sex couples
Legislature passes amendment to civil code making adoption process the same for all couples.
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The Gay Games in Hong Kong was originally scheduled for last year. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong
Gay Games ‘will bring out Hong Kong’ thanks to sponsors after no public funding
Postponed event set to attract 30,000 participants and spectators to the city in November, having raised over US$3million in absence of government support.
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Two Tsinghua University students were disciplined for leaving some rainbow flags in public areas on campus. The women have now filed a lawsuit against China’s Ministry of Education to have the punishment reviewed. Photo: Weibo
Politics
Chinese students disciplined over rainbow flags sue Education Ministry
Advocates commend the Tsinghua University pair for persisting in a mainland environment where public discussion of LGBTQ rights is considered sensitive and is censored.
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Chinese social media has gone into an overwhelmingly positive meltdown after a video was posted online showing a 38-year-old uncle “coming out” to his family at a Lunar New Year dinner. Photo: SCMP composite
Gender & Diversity
‘So cute’: 2 million marvel as uncle ‘comes out’ at Lunar New Year family gathering
A video of a man in southwestern China’s Sichuan province “coming out” and announcing that his wife is a lesbian to his family at a Lunar New Year’s Eve gathering has gone viral during the holiday season on the mainland.
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Henry Edward Tse outside the Court of Final Appeal holding a fai chun, or traditional decorative scroll, carrying the Chinese characters for “victory”. Photo: Edmond So
Society
Rights of 2 transgender men breached over ID cards, top Hong Kong court rules
Case brought by Henry Edward Tse and ‘Q’ in 2019 against commissioner of registration after he refused to review gender status on their identity cards.
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SCMP Originals
Drag kings disrupt mainstream Hong Kong
Same-sex marriage is still no legal in China. Photo: AFP
Politics
How the Chinese internet saw Cuba’s vote on gay marriage, surrogacy
The island nation has become the first in the socialist world to allow same-sex marriage.
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Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit holds rainbow flag outside the High Court in Admiralty. Photo: Felix Wong
Law and Crime
Judges reject plea to recognise overseas same-sex marriages in Hong Kong
Court of Appeal throws out bid to give same-sex couples the same right to marriage as heterosexual ones.
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Vincy Chan Wan-hei is a Hong Kong non-binary transgender musician, illustrator and founder of the Gamut Project, which focuses on community building for queer and trans people of colour. Photo: Stephanie Teng
Arts & Music
How the ‘heartbreaking’ story of a transgender activist changed their life
Hong Kong non-binary transgender musician Vincy Chan Wan-hei recently watched the ‘heartbreaking’ story of transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson on Netflix. It changed their life.
Oscar Wong Wing-hei recently lost a High Court bid for legal aid to challenge his school’s hair length rule. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Opinion
Opinion|Rigid gender norms have no place in our modern society
Arbitrary school rules like short hair for boys deny young people the chance to develop their identities – which is what education should be all about. As a society, we must recognise that it’s possible to champion inclusivity and self-expression while still being mindful of tradition.
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Human rights lawyer Chang Weiping has represented clients facing discrimination over HIV and sexual orientation, and political dissent cases. Photo: Handout
Politics
Chinese human rights lawyer in closed-door trial, family barred from county
Chang Weiping, 38, is accused of subversion of state power and is said to be awaiting a verdict. His wife Chen Zijuan says police blocked the family’s hire car at a highway exit for 20 hours.
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Two Tsinghua University students have been disciplined for leaving rainbow flags in public areas on campus. Photo: Weibo
Politics
Tsinghua students vow to fight penalty for distributing rainbow flags
Women say they were disciplined by student affairs office for leaving 10 rainbow flags, symbols of the LGBT movement, behind campus supermarket counter.
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China’s new regulations on gender affirmation surgery are a “huge step” for transgender people in the country, according to one LGBT community worker. Photo: AFP
Politics
Family approval still biggest hurdle for China’s trans youths seeking surgery
While policy changes make it easier for LGBT youth to access gender affirmation surgery, many still struggle with getting their parents’ consent.
Legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear is voiced by Chris Evans. Image: Disney/Pxiar
United States & Canada
Lightyear won’t show in some countries over same-sex kiss, China also unlikely
Disney was unable to get permission in 14 Asian and Middle Eastern nations to screen the prequel to Pixar’s Toy Story films.
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Illustration: Henry Wong
Politics
China’s gay youth seek a different path to LGBT campaigners in the West
For many of the estimated 70 million people in mainland China who identify as LGBT, acceptance rather than individualism may be their main goal.
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Patrick Sun Kai-yit, Asia’s leading collector of works by LGBTQ artists. Photo: courtesy of Sunpride
Arts & Music
How a Chinese paper cutting artwork changed this LGBT art collector’s life
A Chinese paper cutting, depicting two men having oral sex behind a door while a woman nurses her baby in another room, is a striking symbol of gay men’s struggle for acceptance, says LGBT art collector Patrick Sun.
Promotional shot of “We Are Gay”, a new play by Candice Chong Mui-ngam that will make its debut during the 50th Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2022
Arts & Culture
Ménage à trois and murder: Hong Kong dramatist on her new play We Are Gay
Candice Chong talks about her dark LGBT tale of three gay men in Hong Kong, self-censoring for the first time and why she’d tell her children to leave her home city.
Activists protesting in Taipei on Monday called on the government to approve gay marriage with foreign partners. Photo: AFP
China
Taiwan LGBT activists protest against same-sex marriage rules
Taiwanese can legally wed foreigners, but only those from places that also recognise marriage equality.
Friends fans in mainland China were not happy with the censorship of important recurring character, Carol Willick. Photo: Handout
Big Tech
China’s censorship of Carol, LGBT references in sitcom Friends sparks debate
The censorship of Friends comes amid Beijing’s tightened grip on online content, especially those from foreign markets.
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News
Lunar Newsletter|Camel beauty contest, being LGBTQ+ and Chinese, and more
Opinion
My Take|Would Confucius condone same-sex marriage?
Long-time Post reader and letter writer Mark Peaker squares off with arch-conservative lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu over LGBTQ rights as Ho cites Confucianism in his defence.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
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