Some eventually become regulars, returning to seek a sense of belonging. Some park veterans, vexed by such cognitive dissonance, warn newcomers against “squandering” their time in the park. I shall live with a woman in the long run,” said the 32-year-old clothes wholesaler, whose wife and 6-year-old son live in his hometown, Chengde, in Hebei province. They want to quash rumors and have children to support them in their later years - and perhaps have grandchildren to dote on. With same-sex marriage unrecognized, adoption by gay couples prohibited and surrogacy banned, a majority of this group, she says, would marry women (including some lesbians, who face a similar stigma). Li estimates there are 39 million to 52 million gay men among China’s 1.3 billion citizens. “Superstars don’t want to lose their heterosexual fans, and those in politics need a ‘normal’ family to survive and get promoted,” said sociologist Li Yinhe, a longtime advocate for gay rights in China. Perhaps not surprisingly, few high-profile Chinese have publicly come out. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage and President Obama endorsed the decision. Zeng Yi, a professor in Confucianism at Tongji University, called homosexuality “a crime against humanity” in an essay for the Shanghai-based news website the Paper after the U.S. Sometimes they even discriminate against gay test-takers.”Īnti-gay commentaries often appear in mainstream publications. “Their heart is not with the cause of anti-AIDS for the homosexuals. “The CDC cares about meeting their quotas of HIV positives and getting their funding, but we see homosexuals with feelings,” Peng said. Among 12,000 tests conducted last year, around 300 came back positive, he says.Ĭhinese media frequently portray HIV/AIDS as a “gay disease,” even though national statistics show heterosexual sex was the route of transmission in 66% of new cases reported in the first 10 months of 2014. The CDC dispatches supplies to the volunteers monthly, and in return Peng submits a list of HIV test-takers who typically register under fake names. Peng and his five-person volunteer group have minimal contact with their government sponsors. Topics include cheating heartbreakers, gay identity and how AIDS is spread. He administers free HIV/AIDS tests, hands out condoms and delivers what he calls one-on-one “homosexual 101” sessions. Peng Huijie, 60, who has volunteered for the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing since 2010, rarely misses a day at the park. Some “money boys,” or prostitutes, don’t just charge for their services, but blackmail customers who fear their “hobby” may be leaked. “Nobody outside knows I’m gay.”Īlthough the park is in some ways a refuge, thieves are known to lurk. “What if my boss finds out?” said a 32-year-old clothing wholesaler in a bright orange T-shirt and hair dyed to match. Others forgo small talk for blunt queries about their preferred style of sex.Īnonymity is paramount. Some gossip about a news anchor they believe actually died of AIDS instead of the “official” cause.
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