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It definitely takes time for the elderly

to look at the gay community from a

new angle.

Ying Xin

sand just like an ostrich. practical concern. parents from China or foreign coun-
“The conservative views of older Zhang hesitates to come out to his tries,” Xin says.
generations are the biggest barrier in parents due to his fear of losing their Xin acknowledges the influence of
communication. My parents might be financial support. the One-Child Policy on the gay com-
afraid of people gossiping about me,” “I can’t live on my own, so I have munity.
Gong says. to get along with my parents well,” “Many Chinese parents are eager
“I do not think same-sex marriage Zhang says. to have grandchildren, and this puts
will be legalised in Mainland China. I Many times, Zhang’s father has pressure on their gay children. To seek
probably will not tell my parents that asked him “When will you find a girl- a more liberal atmosphere and escape
I am gay forever. I can say that I am friend?” publicly during family gath- from their parents, these young peo-
a DINK (Double-Income-No-Kids, erings. This makes him speechless. ple will move to big cities like Beijing
couples who both have salaries but do “I feel helpless when hearing what or Shanghai. But that might make
not want children) to explain why I do he says. I have no idea what reaction their parents feel even more worried.
not want to have babies,” Gong adds. I should have. So I pretend that I do It is a vicious cycle,” Xin says.
not hear him,” he says. Xin hopes that the public will ac-
Hesitation Zhang says that he is still finding a cept the gay community, as the atti-
Facing an equally difficult situa- proper way to tell his parents that he tude of the Chinese government has
tion, Justin Zhang*, a gay student who is gay. He is not afraid of dealing with become more positive.
is studying at Wuhan University, has a troubles or communicating with the “We can now see that discussions
older generation. related to the homosexual group are
“I would like to tell them that only happening in many areas such as
if I can live the way I want, I will be policy, education, and culture. The co-
happy,” he says. operation opportunities of NGOs and
enterprises are increasing. Our future
NGOs’ Words path won’t be easy, but we will keep
Ying Xin, executive director of moving forward,” she says.
Beijing LGBT Centre and a visiting
scholar of Human Rights Advocate *Name changed at interviewee’s re-
Programme (HRAP), School of In- quest/to protect the interviewee.
ternational and Public Affairs at Co- Edited by
Edited by
lumbia University, points out that it
Charleen Chen
takes time for parents to accept the Charleen Chen
gay community. Sub-edited by
Sub-edited by
“It definitely takes time for the el-
Laurissa Liu
derly to look at the gay community Laurissa Liu
LGBT community in China.
from a new angle, no matter they are