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Alice Yan

China has performed poorly in a survey of the friendliest 100 cities around the world towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Beijing ranked last in the poll, with Shanghai taking 89th place and Hong Kong 83rd.
The survey was conducted by the Germany-based rented housing website Nestpick in 80 countries around the world.
About 2,500 people in the LGBT community were surveyed in each city before the final 100 shortlist was compiled.
People polled were asked about several criteria, including the strength of a city’s dating scene, nightlife, the openness of fellow citizens towards their sexual orientation, safety and the rights granted to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The top three cities in the poll were Madrid, Amsterdam and Toronto.
Why China’s gays and lesbians are still stuck in the closet
The survey was published on Wednesday to mark the 48th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York that were sparked by a police raid on a gay bar. The riots are now viewed as a key event in the campaign for gay rights.
A Gay Pride parade will be held in many cities around the world this month, but none in mainland China.
Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing all received the lowest polling for LGBT rights. Gay people do not have the legal right to marry in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Beijing also performed poorly on safety for the LGBT community. It scored only 1.84 out of five.
The capital was rated 2.15 for its gay dating scene, 2.12 for nightlife and 2.03 on fellow citizens’ openness. Shanghai was rated 2.51 for its openness towards the LGBT community.
Carol Ding, a Guangzhou-based lawyer who belongs to Rainbow Lawyers Group, an organisation that supports LGBT rights, said she was surprised Chinese cities were included in the world’s 100 best cities for LGBT people.
“I think it’s a far cry for these cities to be regarded as friendly towards the LGBT community,” said Ding. “The personal safety of gay people is even not guaranteed.”
She said many people in mainland China still think that LGBT people were mentally ill. Some hospitals in big cities offer “corrective” treatment for people who are open about their sexual orientation and are sent by force to these institutions.
Taiwan’s top court rules in favour of gay marriage in landmark case
Jean Ouyang, a 24-year-old lesbian living in Beijing, said there were few lesbian bars in the capital compared with gay bars.
She added that very few events were held to mark Gay Pride this month, with some only held at foreign embassies in Beijing.
“For most of the public, they don’t know of the existence of the LGBT community,” she said.
Male transvestites wearing women’s clothing were often attacked on the street in Beijing as their appearance was deemed to contravene mainstream values, she added.
Adam Tang, a manager at a financial firm in Shanghai, said he was unaware if any of his friends or colleagues were gay.
“If he or she opens their identity, I won’t change my attitude towards them because I judge a person based on their personality, not on their sexual orientation,” he said.
He added that he holds a neutral position on whether gay marriage should be legalised in mainland China.
However, he said a trip to London showed him how conservative values were in China.
“There was a male couple walking hand in hand in front of us. I really felt embarrassed at that moment,” he said.
London was ranked fifth in the 100 best LGBT cities ranking.


Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong among the least gay-friendly cities ranked in global survey

A file picture of people taking part in a Gay Pride march in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Cyclists decorated with balloons and rainbow flags take part in Vietnam's first ever gay pride parade on a road in Hanoi on August 5, 2012. The event, organised by the city's small but growing Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, went ahead peacefully with no attempt by police to stop the colourful convoy of about 100 activists. AFP PHOTO / HOANG DINH Nam

A Chinese gay couple, Xian Xian (L) and Tian Tian, hugs on a cruise ship at International Cruise Terminal Station in Shanghai, China June 14, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song

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Beijing last in survey of 100 world cities measuring openness to LGBT community. Shanghai, Hong Kong also fare poorly


Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong among the least gay-friendly cities ranked in global survey

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Beijing last in survey of 100 world cities measuring openness to LGBT community. Shanghai, Hong Kong also fare poorly

Beijing last in survey of 100 world cities measuring openness to LGBT community. Shanghai, Hong Kong also fare poorly