Police in China squash country’s first gay male “beauty pageant”
”I’d be glad to see proper media attention on our community, but not hype…. I was shocked to find out that some online media put my picture on the Internet without even asking my permission…. I am afraid that too much media exposure, particularly before the pageant opening, would backfire and lead to unexpected results like an aborted event.”
Steven Zhang, 30, and one of eight contestants that were slated to take place in China‘s first contest to find Mr. Gay China. The event, as he predicted, drew unwanted attention from police who shut it down. China Daily did post his picture on this article as well. The gay community in the U.S. typically has multiple local, regional and national contests and pageants for all manner of titles — gay, lesbian, drag, pride, ethnic, etc — though most fly under the radar of mainstream attention. For instance, in DC this weekend, contestants have gathered for Mid-Altantic Leather titles. (China Daily)
”I didn’t expect there would this huge media blitz. Originally I didn’t want unnecessary trouble and so I mainly reached out to Western media, but now more and more Chinese media are also asking about the event. This is making a huge impact in the public perception of the gay community and I hope that it will be positive.”
Benjamin Zhang, the organizer of the first Mr Gay China contest and owner of a business called Gayographic. He’s expressing his disappointment and surprise at the reaction from both Beijing’s police and the media. He notes that a lot of money and sponsorships went into the event which was halted by police just one hour before it was to begin. (ABC News)
”Its a disaster. I’m full of disappointment. I thought the government was becoming more and more tolerant…. They were making a big step. The whole world was thinking China was doing a very good thing. But now I think everybody will be disappointed.”
Jing Bo, 29, another of the contestants who were to take place in China’s first gay male “pageant.” He is reacting to the police’s shut down of the event for not having the “proper license.” Chinese society is traditionally seen as unfriendly to gay and lesbian interests, however, as a secular nation that’s quickly become a world leader, it is reported that attitudes in major cities have begun to switch to “indifference.” (AFP)
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