Gays coming out of the bamboo closet

The spread of the Internet and fear of the AIDS epidemic prompt China to embrace a new openness toward gay lifestyles.

By Hank Hyena

Jan 26, 2000 | Jan. 26, 2000

While China still brutally suppresses religious groups and Tibetan minorities, its tolerance for sexual self-expression is surprisingly enlightened. According to the Washington Post, an estimated 40 million to 50 million homosexuals in China are celebrating a newfound openness that includes Beijing gay bars, a national AIDS hotline and a host of bestselling gay books and magazines.

These same-sex liberties are emerging after dour decades of persecution. Many who peeked out from the bamboo closet in the past were incarcerated in mental institutions, where they endured electric shocks as a "cure." In 1997, sodomy was finally decriminalized and today an attitude of acceptance is blossoming in Chinese metropolises.

Is China more queer-friendly than the United States? Yes and no. "We don't see gays beaten to death in our country because of their sexuality," claims Zhang Beichuan, publisher of the gay magazine Friends, which promotes safe sex. "At the same time, we don't have gay and lesbian parades." This attitude contrasts strongly with the horrors and privileges of the United States, where Matthew Shephard's crucifixion and bare-buttocked gay pride marchers exist simultaneously.

Gay and lesbian happiness in China has been boosted by Web sites, especially Asia Friend Finder, a personal ad service based in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian Chinese have moused into this and other chat rooms in search of girlfriends, boyfriends and a virtual community.

Why is China rolling out the lavender carpet now? Many Sinologists suspect that concern regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the answer. Although Beijing's Health Ministry estimates 400,000 people are afflicted, true figures are believed to be considerably higher. To educate its 1.2 billion inhabitants about the infectious plague, openness toward homosexuality is deemed essential.

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