July 2009 Archives

One of the programs we get the most satisfaction from is our summer Haven Project, which places Chinese AIDS advocates in more established AIDS NGOs for a few weeks to a few months. This program builds connections between AIDS activists across borders, while helping Chinese partners - who represent the first generation of civil society leaders in China - to build their skills. This weekend, the first of five Chinese colleagues will make their way to Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

Western media has been full of reports lately about Shanghai's first ever gay pride festival. While police canceled some events, others went forward without interruption. It's really a victory for China's growing LGBT movement - as we learned when we hosted Comrades: the Chinese LGBT film festival here in New York last year, police have often shut down similar events in the past.

All this raises the question...what's it really like to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) in China these days? We've been trying to get to the bottom of this, and the reality seems to be -- surprise! -- pretty complex.