China — Unicorn Booty

China is known for many things: its explosive growth over recent decades, its status as “the world’s factory,” its massive population, its food, and more. Unfortunately, LGBT rights are not on this list. For most of the 21st century, homosexual sex was banned in the People’s Republic of China and it wasn’t legalized until 1997. Homosexuality was also on China’s official list of mental illnesses until 2001. And, according to the law, marriage in the PRC is defined as being between a man and a woman. It’s not surprising then that few Chinese feel comfortable coming out. The Survey on Social Attitudes towards Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression (SOGIE), which was conducted on behalf of the UN Development Program, polled over 30,000 respondents in China and found that only 15% of Chinese LGBT people have come out to family and friends, with only 5% coming out in public. However, the situation is improving. The study revealed that the younger the respondent, the less likely they were to view homosexuality as a pathology, have stereotype-based prejudices, gender binary ideas, or HIV-related stigma. The legal situation for the Chinese LGBT community is also getting better. Beijing now provides dependent residency status to same-sex partners of legal residents (like expats). And in 2009, Hong Kong’s government gave limited recognition and protection to cohabitating same-sex couples in its Domestic Violence Ordinance.
Editors' Picks
It’s Tradition: Ring in the Lunar New Year While Wearing Sexy Red Undies

There are many traditions revolving around New Year’s. Wearing certain colors or new items, and eating certain foods to ring in a brand-new year are just a few that happen around the world. And while many of us celebrated the new year on January 1, others celebrate the Lunar New[…]

Read the full story
Books
Danmei, a Chinese Version of the BL Genre, Is Proving Its Popularity Among Wider Audiences

In December 2021, the first volumes of three danmei light novels by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu were officially translated into English by publisher Seven Seas Entertainment, and they all debuted on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu) Vol. 1 debuted at #8, Grandmaster[…]

Read the full story
History
China’s Modern-Day Homophobia Belies a Queer History Dating Back to 600 B.C.

Throughout history, homosexuality in China has been accepted, and Emperor Ai of Han even tried to get his lover Dong Xian to inherit the throne

Read the full story
Photography
Lin Zhipeng’s Photography Offers a Sexy, Revealing Peek Into Gay China (NSFW)

A gay man born in China who has since become an indelibly modern fashion photographer, his shots are revealing, candid and sexy

Read the full story
Quantcast