First same-sex marriage protest in China

Posted on February 19, 2007
Filed Under China | Leave a Comment

[llang_en]On Valentine’s Day, Beijing’s queer population protested for same-sex marriage to be legalized. This was the first protest for that cause in China. Flyers were given out as part of the protest.

The protest took place during lunch hour in a well-populated business area. One of the protestors who spoke with the Advocate said she was worried about the police’s reaction. But the protest, according to the publication, went off without a hitch.

In addition, many supported the protesters. “I think it’s only fair; it’s everybody’s right to get married,” Liu Peng, one of the crowd who watched the protest, told the Advocate: “I support them. I think it’s great.”

But Peng was not optimistic about same-sex marriage in China. “I don’t know when China will have gay marriage,” he told the Advocate. “Not now, but in the future I think China will have gay marriage; but I can’t say when.”

Others were less supportive of the cause. Christina Wang, another crowd member, was quoted by the Advocate as saying, “I am a Christian and I don’t think it’s right. I don’t think it’s healthy to be gay.”

China had a strong supporter of same-sex marriage in Li Yinhe, a well-known sexologist in that country. According to the Advocate, she had given three proposals to China’s parliament to make same-sex marriage legal. But all three were turned down, and Yinhe recently announced she was no longer campaigning for same-sex rights.

Source: PrideParenting.com

Beijing gays rally for same-sex marriage

Posted on February 15, 2007
Filed Under China | Leave a Comment

Gay men and lesbians in Beijing used Valentine’s Day to make the country’s first public appeal for the legalization of same-sex marriage in China.

Around half a dozen protesters handed out flyers wrapped around red carnations during a busy lunch hour in the capital’s central business district calling for the public support of same-sex unions.

Such unauthorized protests are rare in China. In 2005 a gay and lesbian culture festival was broken up by the police on the grounds the organizers had not sought permission to hold the event.

Many said they were behind the protesters. “I think it’s only fair; it’s everybody’s right to get married,” said Liu Peng, a 21-year-old student of banking. “I support them. I think it’s great. I don’t know when China will have gay marriage,” he added. “Not now, but in the future I think China will have gay marriage, but I can’t say when, maybe far in the future.” Liu said he was not gay.

Source: PlanetOut.com

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