by Guest Blogger for Elizabeth C. Economy
July 2, 2014
In just its sixth year, Shanghai Pride has emerged as a major celebratory event for China's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The weeklong festival features art exhibits, panel discussions, and even a marathon-picnic—all of whose locations span across many of the city's most popular areas. But there's more to the celebration than just fun. Shanghai Pride aims to promote awareness about China's sexual minorities by openly addressing the unique social and cultural challenges that they face. For example, this year's film festival displayed works on transgender identity and homophobic violence, while a panel discussion asked parents and relatives of LGBT children to share their stories of support and acceptance. In a society still dominated by traditional views on gender, Shanghai Pride thus offers a rare chance for solidarity, and an avenue towards greater social acceptance.
More:
http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2014/07/02/erwin-li-better-together-two-approaches-to-lgbt-activism-in-china/
