City government in China opens gay bar to get men out of woods, safer education
“In the past the government relied on [non-governmental organizations] to reach out to the gay community…. Now there’s a change, in that some local health bureaus feel they are able to reach out to the community themselves.”
Bing Lan, director of outreach organization Aibai, speaking with Reuters about the decision of the government of Dali, a city in China, to open a gay bar in the hope that they can stem the spread of HIV. The bar is to open tomorrow as part of an observance of World AIDS Day and is said to be offer sex education and free condoms. The story says some men in the area are used to being in hiding, meeting in the woods, and are not likely to go to the grand opening because of the press. (Reuters)
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