It's Saturday night at the HUNK club in Chengdu and men in gold lycra shorts and black boots dance on stage. They wear kimonos, in an apparent tactical compromise with new morality codes creeping into China's "gay capital".

But across town, young women still lounge on leather sofas drinking beer at a lesbian club, while a nearby bar is hosting an LGBTQ board game night.

Far from the administrative glare of Beijing, the cosmopolitan southwestern city, dubbed "Gaydu" by Chinese millennials, has long cherished its reputation as a safe haven for a community that faces stigma and widespread harassment elsewhere in the country.

But activists now say the city's permissive streak is under threat, as the central Communist leadership puts the squeeze on the few bastions of sexual freedom across the country.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-completes-track-laying-work-for-a-railway-line-in-tibet-close-to-arunachal-pradesh-353727">China completes track-laying work for railway line in Tibet close to Arunachal</a>

But Chengdu's resilient LGBTQ community is not ready to be forced into the closet.

"There is some tacit acceptance by the authorities, but it is very delicate," said Matthew, an activist from the NGO Chengdu Rainbow, who requested use of his first name only.

The recipe for survival, Matthew says, is "making small progress" rather than big political and social statements that rattle China's hyper-sensitive authorities.

The mood in Chengdu started to sour in October when the MC Club was closed after explicit photos were posted online and local media reported that HIV infections had been linked to sex parties allegedly taking place at the venue's sauna.

Some in the gay community say a spike in the number of domestic LGBTQ visitors -- unable to travel overseas because of the coronavirus pandemic -- drew unwanted attention from city authorities.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-fisherman-finds-chinese-drone-submarine-on-possible-mission-353773">Indonesian fisherman finds Chinese drone submarine on possible mission</a>

Major gay bars in the city were temporarily shut down, ostensibly to control a public health crisis.

Then, an activist told AFP, all of the city's LGBTQ organisations were suddenly investigated.

Stolen pride

China's LGBTQ population still encounters discrimination and lacks legal safeguards in a country that as recently as 2001 still classified being gay as a mental illness.

Gay marriage is still not legally recognised, despite mounting calls to introduce it, especially among the younger generations.

But major obstacles block their progress.

President Xi Jinping has overseen a drive against anything considered antithetical to Communist Party values -- leaving little room for gay pride.

Beijing also frowns on large civil society mobilisations of any kind.

In August, ShanghaiPRIDE -- China's longest-running annual LGBTQ festival -- abruptly announced it was shutting down for "the safety of all involved".

No explanation was given for why the event was pulled, but rumours abound of pressure on the organisers as the LGBTQ community is boxed-in by conservative social values.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/nyse-to-delist-chinese-telco-giants-on-us-executive-order-353745">NYSE to delist Chinese telco giants on US executive order</a>

To locals, Chengdu is the final holdout.

They say the city's gay-friendly ambience derives from its eclectic mix of ethnic minorities and cultures -- as well as its handy distance from Beijing and the strictures of mainstream China.

The city's allure is "its openness," said activist Matthew, whose office is festooned with rainbow flags and posters reading "Be proud, Be yourself".

"People here generally don't care what your sexual orientation is."

Before it was shut, the MC Club was packed with about 1,000 people each night, an activist told AFP.

Its anything-goes reputation is folkloric across the gay community in the city of 16 million.

One gay man told AFP he received a sexual massage in a sauna at the premises and had previously attended a party in the dark where no clothes were allowed.

Tea and tolerance

China's first widely reported gay marriage took place in Chengdu in 2010 -- a symbolic ceremony between two men as same-sex unions still have no legal basis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-lead-in-the-media-repression-this-year-by-imposing-restrictions-on-foreign-journalist-353774">WATCH|</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-lead-in-the-media-repression-this-year-by-imposing-restrictions-on-foreign-journalist-353774/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Still, China's rainbow community remains in the dark compared to many freer Asian countries.

Gay bars contacted by AFP refused on-the-record interviews and most interviewees declined to be identified.

"These past few years, mainstream ideology became more aggressive and the LGBT community has been more marginalised," said Tang Yinghong, a professor who teaches sexual psychology.

At HUNK club, there are no rainbow flags and most clubbers chat quietly, holding hands.

Its dancers have recently added the kimonos to their kit to avoid the unwanted attention garnered by the MC Club, a patron told AFP.

Teacher Ray, who relocated to Chengdu this year, said he was uncomfortable with coming out at home in the northern city of Xi'an.

But "everyone in Chengdu knows I'm gay -- my boss, some of my student's parents, all of my friends".

The secret to survival is avoiding noisy social and political advocacy, says Hongwei, a member of a Chengdu NGO, using a pseudonym.

LGBTQ groups in the city instead focus on community needs such as psychological support and help for those coming out, while some readily report planned events to authorities to keep everything above board.

At a trendy teahouse in the city centre, same-sex couples nestle together in wicker chairs and sip tea, without raising any eyebrows.

"I never had anyone here tell me how to live," says Hongwei, pouring out cups of green tea from a stylish black pot.

"We just manage our own business here, and don't interfere with others."

It's Saturday night at the HUNK club in Chengdu and men in gold lycra shorts and black boots dance on stage. They wear kimonos, in an apparent tactical compromise with new morality codes creeping into China's "gay capital".

It's Saturday night at the HUNK club in Chengdu and men in gold lycra shorts and black boots dance on stage. They wear kimonos, in an apparent tactical compromise with new morality codes creeping into China's "gay capital". But across town, young women still lounge on leather sofas drinking beer at a lesbian club, while a nearby bar is hosting an LGBTQ board game night. Far from the administrative glare of Beijing, the cosmopolitan southwestern city, dubbed "Gaydu" by Chinese millennials, has long cherished its reputation as a safe haven for a community that faces stigma and widespread harassment elsewhere in the country. But activists now say the city's permissive streak is under threat, as the central Communist leadership puts the squeeze on the few bastions of sexual freedom across the country. Also read| China completes track-laying work for railway line in Tibet close to Arunachal But Chengdu's resilient LGBTQ community is not ready to be forced into the closet. "There is some tacit acceptance by the authorities, but it is very delicate," said Matthew, an activist from the NGO Chengdu Rainbow, who requested use of his first name only. The recipe for survival, Matthew says, is "making small progress" rather than big political and social statements that rattle China's hyper-sensitive authorities. The mood in Chengdu started to sour in October when the MC Club was closed after explicit photos were posted online and local media reported that HIV infections had been linked to sex parties allegedly taking place at the venue's sauna. Some in the gay community say a spike in the number of domestic LGBTQ visitors -- unable to travel overseas because of the coronavirus pandemic -- drew unwanted attention from city authorities. Also read| Indonesian fisherman finds Chinese drone submarine on possible mission Major gay bars in the city were temporarily shut down, ostensibly to control a public health crisis. Then, an activist told AFP, all of the city's LGBTQ organisations were suddenly investigated. Stolen pride China's LGBTQ population still encounters discrimination and lacks legal safeguards in a country that as recently as 2001 still classified being gay as a mental illness. Gay marriage is still not legally recognised, despite mounting calls to introduce it, especially among the younger generations. But major obstacles block their progress. President Xi Jinping has overseen a drive against anything considered antithetical to Communist Party values -- leaving little room for gay pride. Beijing also frowns on large civil society mobilisations of any kind. In August, ShanghaiPRIDE -- China's longest-running annual LGBTQ festival -- abruptly announced it was shutting down for "the safety of all involved". No explanation was given for why the event was pulled, but rumours abound of pressure on the organisers as the LGBTQ community is boxed-in by conservative social values. Also read| NYSE to delist Chinese telco giants on US executive order To locals, Chengdu is the final holdout. They say the city's gay-friendly ambience derives from its eclectic mix of ethnic minorities and cultures -- as well as its handy distance from Beijing and the strictures of mainstream China. The city's allure is "its openness," said activist Matthew, whose office is festooned with rainbow flags and posters reading "Be proud, Be yourself". "People here generally don't care what your sexual orientation is." Before it was shut, the MC Club was packed with about 1,000 people each night, an activist told AFP. Its anything-goes reputation is folkloric across the gay community in the city of 16 million. One gay man told AFP he received a sexual massage in a sauna at the premises and had previously attended a party in the dark where no clothes were allowed. Tea and tolerance China's first widely reported gay marriage took place in Chengdu in 2010 -- a symbolic ceremony between two men as same-sex unions still have no legal basis. WATCH| × Still, China's rainbow community remains in the dark compared to many freer Asian countries. Gay bars contacted by AFP refused on-the-record interviews and most interviewees declined to be identified. "These past few years, mainstream ideology became more aggressive and the LGBT community has been more marginalised," said Tang Yinghong, a professor who teaches sexual psychology. At HUNK club, there are no rainbow flags and most clubbers chat quietly, holding hands. Its dancers have recently added the kimonos to their kit to avoid the unwanted attention garnered by the MC Club, a patron told AFP. Teacher Ray, who relocated to Chengdu this year, said he was uncomfortable with coming out at home in the northern city of Xi'an. But "everyone in Chengdu knows I'm gay -- my boss, some of my student's parents, all of my friends". The secret to survival is avoiding noisy social and political advocacy, says Hongwei, a member of a Chengdu NGO, using a pseudonym. LGBTQ groups in the city instead focus on community needs such as psychological support and help for those coming out, while some readily report planned events to authorities to keep everything above board. At a trendy teahouse in the city centre, same-sex couples nestle together in wicker chairs and sip tea, without raising any eyebrows. "I never had anyone here tell me how to live," says Hongwei, pouring out cups of green tea from a stylish black pot. "We just manage our own business here, and don't interfere with others."

Chengdu: China's permissive 'gay capital' refusing to fold

China has launched the initiative of capturing the country's&nbsp;demographic changes for the first time in over a decade. The LGBTQ community has used this opportunity to come out of the shadows and officially register themselves as a 'couple', instead of just 'roommates'.

More than seven million workers have started conducting a door-to-door search to measure the changes in the population of nearly 1.4 billion.&nbsp;

When the survey started, the LGBTQ community activists urged the community to come forward and mark their residency relationship as 'couple' rather than 'roommates'. The Guangzhou-based LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy China has started a campaign to spread awareness about this by using the tag line, "they are not my roommate, they are my partner".

"Usually the LGBTQ+ community in China is invisible in terms of policy making and social life. We hope that through this the government will consider the needs of the LGBTQ+ community as a part of the Chinese population when it makes policies in the future," said Peng Yanhui, director of the group leading the effort. "Through the census, this community can be made visible."

This movement began when a couple marked 'other' under the head of 'relationship to the head of the household', and then wrote 'couple' in the given empty space. "It took a lot of courage and I hope others can also speak out proudly rather than hide," said Ah Qiang, an LGBTQ activist.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-army-to-compensate-lgbtq-community-for-years-of-discrimination-345757">German army to compensate LGBTQ community for years of discrimination</a>

The LGBTQ community is hoping this will give them a chance to openly admit their relationship, instead of having to hide behind the shadows due to the fear of facing discrimination. China's LGBTQ community often faces hardship, especially in finding a house to rent, if they openly admit being gay — an issue which has been raised by activists in the past too.

However, things seem to be changing for the community now, as more and more people are opening up to the idea of same-sex marriage and relationships and, excluding a certain population, many locals have now started 'accepting' the LGBTQ community.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moment-of-pride-two-same-sex-couples-to-get-married-in-taiwanese-military-mass-wedding-338716">Moment of pride: Two same-sex couples to get married in Taiwanese military mass wedding</a>

This campaign has come as a sigh of relief for the people who have wanted to gain recognition but were unable to. The tagline of 'not just a roommate' and 'they are not my roommate, they are my partner' have helped these couples acknowledge their relationship openly. The movement has also gained traction on social media with many commenting about how they would be doing the same in this year's census survey.

China has launched the initiative of capturing the country's demographic changes for the first time in over a decade. The LGBTQ community has used this opportunity to come out of the shadows and officially register themselves as a 'couple', instead of just 'roommates'.

China has launched the initiative of capturing the country's demographic changes for the first time in over a decade. The LGBTQ community has used this opportunity to come out of the shadows and officially register themselves as a 'couple', instead of just 'roommates'. More than seven million workers have started conducting a door-to-door search to measure the changes in the population of nearly 1.4 billion. When the survey started, the LGBTQ community activists urged the community to come forward and mark their residency relationship as 'couple' rather than 'roommates'. The Guangzhou-based LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy China has started a campaign to spread awareness about this by using the tag line, "they are not my roommate, they are my partner". "Usually the LGBTQ+ community in China is invisible in terms of policy making and social life. We hope that through this the government will consider the needs of the LGBTQ+ community as a part of the Chinese population when it makes policies in the future," said Peng Yanhui, director of the group leading the effort. "Through the census, this community can be made visible." This movement began when a couple marked 'other' under the head of 'relationship to the head of the household', and then wrote 'couple' in the given empty space. "It took a lot of courage and I hope others can also speak out proudly rather than hide," said Ah Qiang, an LGBTQ activist. Also read| German army to compensate LGBTQ community for years of discrimination The LGBTQ community is hoping this will give them a chance to openly admit their relationship, instead of having to hide behind the shadows due to the fear of facing discrimination. China's LGBTQ community often faces hardship, especially in finding a house to rent, if they openly admit being gay — an issue which has been raised by activists in the past too. However, things seem to be changing for the community now, as more and more people are opening up to the idea of same-sex marriage and relationships and, excluding a certain population, many locals have now started 'accepting' the LGBTQ community. Also read| Moment of pride: Two same-sex couples to get married in Taiwanese military mass wedding This campaign has come as a sigh of relief for the people who have wanted to gain recognition but were unable to. The tagline of 'not just a roommate' and 'they are not my roommate, they are my partner' have helped these couples acknowledge their relationship openly. The movement has also gained traction on social media with many commenting about how they would be doing the same in this year's census survey.

Not just roommates: China's LGBTQ couples come out of shadows in national census

gay-rights-in-china

Gay Rights In China, News on Gay Rights In China, stories on Gay Rights In China, articles on Gay Rights In China, Gay Rights In China stories at Wion, Gay Rights In China news, Gay Rights In China latest news

gay rights-in-china

Chengdu: China's permissive 'gay capital' refusing to fold

Not just roommates: China's LGBTQ couples come out of shadows in national census