China Daily Article: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-02/15/content_12008759.htm
Valentine's Day has arrived once again, and New World Shopping Mall was celebrating with a Creative Kissing Competition! However, the competition was promptly canceled after homosexual couples from the local LGBT Center made it clear they would be entering the competition to raise awareness about gay rights, or lack thereof, in China. Yet, the cancelation did not stop some brave couples from kissing for the media. I was frankly shocked when I saw this article on ChinaDaily.com because I did not realize homosexuality was openly talked about in Beijing. When I went to Taiwan for Jan Term 2011 some friends and I asked university students about homosexuality and its place in society. We were told that Asians are, for the most part, quite conservative in comparison with Western standards, and homosexuality is not as openly acknowledged as it is in the United States. I would have assumed that this attitude would also be present in Taiwan's close neighbor. I am glad this doesn't seem to be the case. As a proponent of gay rights, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this issue is receiving media attention. I think this is a good indication that social freedoms are emerging in China, albeit slowly but surely. Acknowledgment and awareness campaigns are the first step toward solving any social issue, and this first step has been taken.
This blog is meant to be a space for the Austin College community to discuss issues related to China and the Chinese language. For author permissions, please write to Dr. Jennifer Thackston Johnson: jtj.at.ac –at- gmail.com. Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas.
I find this article to be fascinating, particularly the last quote. According to the bystander, kissing between homosexual couples is not a rare event on the television shows, so I am puzzled as to why the event was canceled. While in Beijing, I asked around and found that every one of the Chinese university students were in support of gay rights, and most had good friends that were themselves gay. The fact that the governmental involvement was what canceled the event only further shows the divide between the ideology of the government and People.
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