People gather for the 'Big Bash' barbecue - billed as the highlight of the week-long 'Shanghai Pride' festival. -- PHOTO: AFP
SHANGHAI - CHINA'S first gay pride festival closed in Shanghai on Sunday after a week marred by authorities' last-minute cancellation of events, in a country where homosexuality remains largely hidden.
Shanghai authorities prevented a film screening and a play during the festival, and police officers turned up at the venue of Saturday's major events.
EVENTS earlier in the week had been less smooth.
Kathleen's Five restaurant was forced to cancel a planned screening of a lesbian-themed film after local officials said it was not authorised to screen movies, according to Mr Tan.
'It's a reminder that China remains an authoritarian regime where homosexuality remains taboo,' said Mr Xing Wang, a US citizen of Chinese ancestry who currently lives in Shanghai.
Shanghai is generally considered China's most liberal city, but even here the gay pride festival has had to take place in an extremely discreet fashion in order to go ahead.
Events for 'Shanghai Pride' were organised at private venues without a public parade - in stark contrast to similar events elsewhere in the world - to avoid attracting unwanted official attention.
'I missed the craziness of the Los Angeles Gay Pride a bit,' said Paul, an American in his 40s. 'Here, I've had the impression that I was taking part in a company picnic.'
China's homosexuals, believed to number about 30 million, according to state media, are still somewhat stigmatised in the general population, and it is only recently that discrimination ceased to be official policy.
China decriminalised gay sex only in 1997, while homosexual behaviour was officially viewed as a mental disorder until 2001. Reflecting the continued sensitivity of the subject, none of the mainstream media carried any reporting about 'Shanghai Pride' on Sunday.
On Saturday, a series of shows, including a performance by body builders, took place at Cotton's bar, in a garden that was hidden from view by a rainbow banner covering the surrounding fence. Four fake gay marriages - involving two Chinese and two foreign couples - also were carried out on Saturday.
'We're very satisfied with the big party day,' said Mr Kenneth Tan, spokesman for organisers Shanghai LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender), referring to Saturday's programme. 'We got what we wanted.' -- AFP
