Is China Cracking Down on Gays Before Olympics?
Monday 14th April 2008
Gay rights supporters and AIDS activists in China are up in arms following a crackdown on gays and lesbians in Beijing.
The Olympic countdown clock in Beijing. Image by coolgene.
In a move that mirrors the crackdown on gay men in Egypt, the Chinese government is allegedly “cleaning up” the city ahead of the upcoming Olympics.
According to activist Wan Yanhai, the government has been increasingly conducting raids focused on the LGBT community. Many gay and lesbian bars in the city have been raided, resulting in patrons being detained or interrogated. Some bars and clubs have been shut down.
The crackdown on gays in China is something of a change in policy. The official government line consists of the “Three Nos”: no approval, no disapproval and no promotion. Homosexuality was decriminalised several years ago in the country.
However, several popular LGBT night spots and gathering places have been raided in the past few days for reasons that are shaky at best. A popular club was shut down for being “too crowded”, and several bathhouses and cruising spots were closed.
The official reasons for the crackdowns range from drugs to loud music. Activists, however, believe that the rapid increase in raids on LGBT hangouts is part of a cleanup before the Olympics. They think the city is embarrassed of its gay population, and wants to drive them into hiding ahead of the games.
If it’s true, add it to a laundry list of other complaints made about the Chinese government ahead of the Olympics. Most famous is the situation in Tibet, where troops have been cracking down on protesters in recent months. The situation has sparked frequent protests along the route of the Olympic flame, with some protesters even attempting to extinguish the torch.
The Olympic countdown clock in Beijing. Image by coolgene.
In a move that mirrors the crackdown on gay men in Egypt, the Chinese government is allegedly “cleaning up” the city ahead of the upcoming Olympics.
According to activist Wan Yanhai, the government has been increasingly conducting raids focused on the LGBT community. Many gay and lesbian bars in the city have been raided, resulting in patrons being detained or interrogated. Some bars and clubs have been shut down.
The crackdown on gays in China is something of a change in policy. The official government line consists of the “Three Nos”: no approval, no disapproval and no promotion. Homosexuality was decriminalised several years ago in the country.
However, several popular LGBT night spots and gathering places have been raided in the past few days for reasons that are shaky at best. A popular club was shut down for being “too crowded”, and several bathhouses and cruising spots were closed.
The official reasons for the crackdowns range from drugs to loud music. Activists, however, believe that the rapid increase in raids on LGBT hangouts is part of a cleanup before the Olympics. They think the city is embarrassed of its gay population, and wants to drive them into hiding ahead of the games.
If it’s true, add it to a laundry list of other complaints made about the Chinese government ahead of the Olympics. Most famous is the situation in Tibet, where troops have been cracking down on protesters in recent months. The situation has sparked frequent protests along the route of the Olympic flame, with some protesters even attempting to extinguish the torch.
