A local Internet forum for gay people -- the first to be
sponsored by a government agency, is attracting an increasing
number of browsers since its services were publicized just over a
week ago.
The website, www.cystd.com.cn, provides a platform for
homosexuals to share their experiences and to raise awareness of
AIDS prevention.
"Forum for Comrades" -- named after the new slang term for gay
which developed because the word for homosexual and comrade share a
Chinese character -- had received 223 postings on its notice board
as of Monday, a sevenfold increase since it was publicized in the
media on Aug.13.
The forum run by the Disease Prevention and Control Center of
Chaoyang District of Beijing went into operation more than two
months ago, but without any publicity it failed to attract many web
surfers. "We actually launched the forum in June, but didn't
publicize the issue because we feared it might spur debate among
the public," said Fu Qingyuan, an official in charge of the
website.
"I'm a comrade and I'm now at the age of marriage. Because of
who I am I haven't found a girlfriend," says one comrade who gave
his name as Sunboyhands.
"My parents have pressed me to get married. To escape the
pressure to marry, I haven't gone home for three years,"
Sunboyhands says. "Sometimes, I feel tired because I can't tell my
parents I'm a gay."
Although the public's understanding of homosexuality has greatly
increased in more enlightened centers of the country in recent
years, gays remain very much stigmatized in China.
Sunboyhands' posting attracted comments from seven other
"comrades" who shared similar feelings and experiences.
"I thought I was the only 'comrade' in the world to live such a
life, but that's not the case. 'Comrades' are common in today's
society," said another gay man who gave his name as "Call for
Love". "I've found the website only today, and I hope the
government and society will understand us: we 'comrades' are as
good, faithful and law-abiding as anyone else."
The forum has three chat rooms: two for same-sex lovers to share
their emotions and experiences; and the other to exchange views on
the prevention of AIDS between "comrades" and medical experts.
There are many private websites and blogs in China dedicated to
issues relating to the gay community.
The forum's administrator, Xiao Dong, who is gay and an advocate
for gay rights, said the site allows "comrades" to communicate with
medical staff from the disease prevention center.
"The forum is designed to allow health advisors hear this
group's actual needs, enhance communication and prevent the spread
of AIDS," Fu said, "We delete messages that offer prostitution
services or contain phonographic pictures."
Those who want to find a partner via the forum are not
encouraged and their postings are also deleted, said Xiao Dong.
"They have many other places to express their feelings and find
partners, such as the 'comarade' websites and blogs." Xiao added.
"The forum is mainly about the prevention of AIDS among the
'comrades'."
Fu's website also publishes domestic and international
developments on AIDS diagnosis and treatments and has an online
question and answer session hosted by medical workers.
China has between 5 million and 10 million gay men, according to
official figures published in 2004, the most recent data available.
The number of lesbians was not published, but Zhang Beichuan, a
Qingdao University professor and a renowned expert on homosexual
studies, estimated there are around 10 million.
(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2006)