China’s Gay Rights Revolution

It’s easy to see why the Chinese gay rights movement has been left wondering just where it stands. Homosexuality was only removed from the state-approved list of mental illnesses in 2001, and since the government has broadly taken a laissez-faire approach to the issue. While Beijing is home to a handful of gay clubs, it would be extremely unusual to see a gay couple openly affectionate in any other public place. It appeared the government was happy for a gay community to exist, as long as it broadly stayed out of the public eye.

Yet last year, something seemed to change. In April, the state-run China Daily, the country’s largest English-language newspaper, splashed a picture of a gay couple marrying close to Tiananmen Square on its front page. Although the marriage was primarily ceremonial and not legally binding, it was state-approved. The paper ran a similar front page story last week, days before the cancellation of the gay pageant.

More at: Guardian UK!

China City Government Opens Gay Bar

From Reuters:

A Chinese city with one of the nation’s highest rates of AIDS has opened a government-funded gay bar in an outreach effort that has stirred debate over the use of taxpayers’ money.

The health department in Dali, a picturesque city on a lake in southwestern Yunnan province, funded the bar to reach out to China’s increasingly open gay community. Dali is one of the 10 cities in China most affected by AIDS.

Same-sex transmission accounts for about one-third of new HIV infections in China, the minister of health said this month.

“Some readers think that it’s a waste of taxpayer money, or an indirect endorsement of homosexual behaviour,” the Beijing News said in an opinion piece on Monday, citing letters to the editor after it ran an article on the bar over the weekend.

“They think if there were another way to reach out to the gay community, it wouldn’t be necessary to open a bar.”

Founder Zhang Jianbo hopes that the bar will be a public gathering place for gay men, especially from rural villages, who used to gather in a patch of woods near the historic town.

The bar offers sex education and free condoms, in addition to companionship, Zhang said in an interview with the newspaper.

More here!

Smith and Son Attend Opening in Beijing

According to a post on Access Hollywood, the lovable Will Smith and son Jaden attended the starting ceremony of “The Karate Kid” which was held in Beijing, China, on July 11, 2009.

Find more great celebrity news at Access Hollywood!

GayAgenda Speaks with John Amaechi

For those of you who don’t know, John Amaechi, is the 6 ft 10 in, 270 lb center who was signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers (basketball) in 1995. He played 28 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during that season. From there, he went on to play for two years in Europe.

He returned to the USA to play for the Orlando Magic in 1999. With a solid 1999-2000 season, where he averaged 10.5 points in 21.1 minutes per contest, he gained notoriety for scoring the NBA’s first points in the year 2000. Later that same year, Amaechi turned down a $17 million contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers in order to remain in Orlando for $600,000 per year. Amaechi went on to play for the Utah Jazz from 2001 to 2003. His final stint with the NBA was in Houston, where he played for the Rockets.

It was during his NBA career that John earned a degree in psychology and founded the ABC Foundation in his hometown of Manchester, England. The Foundation and its Amaechi Basketball Centre simply subscribe to Amaechi’s theory that “no child shall go uncoached: in life or in sport.”

More recently, Amaechi provided co-commentary for the BBC at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Today, Amaechi owns Animus Consulting, which provides motivational speakers, and is a partner in Animus Development, an executive training program.

Post NBA, Amaechi came out of retirement to represent England during the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, helping the England national basketball team win the bronze medal. He also came out…as gay.

In February 2007, Amaechi spoke about his homosexuality on ESPN’s Outside the Lines program. He also released a book, Man in the Middle, published by ESPN Books, which discusses his career and life as a closeted professional athlete. Amaechi is the first NBA player to speak publicly about being gay. He has spoken about his sexuality on shows such as Oprah.

This year, Amaechi has made several appearances on Shirts & Skins, a reality series about a gay basketball team on LOGO Television. Amaechi acted as team “mentor” and “psychologist” to the San Francisco Rockdogs. He also shared his experiences on basketball, life, and coming out.

John was also kind enough to grant GayAgenda.com with an interview, which follows.

GA: In your interview with Oprah, you stated; “I knew that I had something of value to say, and I knew that I wanted to try and be, not necessarily a vanguard, but a role model. … I just didn’t think I would have the opportunity to have this kind of massive platform, but I’m really going to embrace that.” What have you done to embrace that?

JA: “I wrap my head around that, and keep it in my head at all times. I always think of myself as a role model at all times, not only when the camera is on.”

GA: Do you have any advice for someone who wants to become an activist and isn’t sure where to start?

JA: “A platform really isn’t required. Find a niche. Donate time at food banks and community centers. We disengage from each other so much. Small gestures produce grand results. When I met kids in Orlando, I would simply remember their names. It’s small gestures like that which go a long way.”

GA: What was your inspiration behind your book, “Man in the Middle”?

JA: “It is something I am passionate about. I wanted to become an agent for change.”

GA: I’m not asking you to name anyone specifically, but in general, you have mentioned you know other gay professional athletes who are not out. What have they told you is their reason for not coming out?

JA: “I know many, and the reasons vary. The answer is never simple, as for financial reasons. When you’re a professional athlete, you often become a one-dimensional character. It would be easy for people to define you by your sexuality. Many professional athletes have strong corporate ties they are afraid of losing. Also, athletes are typically ranked higher than politicians in popularity. They are role models for men whom women want to be with. That alone can make it very difficult to come out.”

GA: What advice do you have for athletes who may want to come out?

JA: “My advice is the same for a 15 year-old lesbian, as it is for a male professional athlete. Find one person, at least, who they can trust and be themselves with before coming out.”

GA: With the issues of gay marriage and civil rights being such hot topics, do you have any thoughts on the upcoming U.S. election?

JA: “As non-nuanced as it is, fundamentally I feel there is very poor dialogue. Neither candidate is being as fourth right as they should, however McCain is simply a poor candidate for a country under the gun. Obama provides the U.S. with a legitimate chance at gaining the respect of the world.”

GA: What is your fondest and worst memory of your NBA career?

JA: “My first season with the Orlando Magic is my fondest. The experience was unique and they were a great team. I really don’t have a worst memory however. Basketball has not been the highlight of my life.”

GA: Do you think race plays a specific role in sexuality?

JA: “I believe it depends on your environment. There is a lot to consider. It’s different for people in urban environments. Also churches play a large role in this issue. It’s very different in Eastern European countries than it is from the U.S. In other countries, black doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about a person.”

GA: What do you feel is the greatest issue facing the GLBT community today?

JA: “Apathy. So many in the community feel they have done enough, or enough has been done, so they just want to coast through life.”

GA: What do you think could be done to change the attitudes of homophobic people in our society?

JA: “Our presence. We need to be seen to become more than issues, or just the LGBT community, but rather a part of society.”

GA: Why do you think people bring religion into discussions of GLBT issues?

JA: “Because everyone wants the ultimate authority on their side. They want to believe how or what they feel is justified and correct.”

GA: What do you feel is the greatest disconnect within the GLBT community?

JA: “The GLB does not recognize the T. It’s a great shame.”

GA: Do you know any transgender persons?

JA: “Yes, several.”

GA: OK John, I want to get a little more person now. You have mentioned in previous interview that you are “somewhat of a loner”. Has that changed for you since coming out?

JA: “No, I’m still a loner. When I’m in public, a lot of people point and stare. Not so much because they recognize me, but because of my size. Also, as a psychologist, I am around people most of the time when I’m not at home, so I still very much appreciate my alone time.”

GA: What do you feel is your greatest attribute?

JA: “Empathy. My ability to connect with people and their struggles.”

GA: As you reflect on your life up to the present, what are you most grateful for?

JA: “My mother, a truly wonderful person in all aspects.”

GA: Going back for a moment to when you were on Oprah, she asked if you had a boyfriend and you said no. She mentioned something to the effect of “you will now”. Do you?

JA: “No (with a small laugh), I am not everyone’s cup of tea.”

GA: If you could be remembered for one thing, what would you want that to be?

JA: “Well, I don’t want to be remembered as a basketball player. What is really important is how you make people feel. If you can make people feel good, that is an enduring legacy.”

GA: And finally John, if you could deliver one message to the entire world, what would that be?

JA: “I don’t have one. When you try to address the ills of the world, especially by placing them into one category, you become a politician. I don’t want to be a politician.”

Thank you John for taking time to speak with us. You are an asset to the GLBT community and a gentleman in the greatest respect of the word. Our best wishes to you, your family and your future endeavors.

Want to learn more about John Amaechi? Check out his website by clicking here.

Beijing HIV Rate Higher than Predicted

According to a post on pinknews;

The number of gay men in the Chinese capital who have HIV is much larger than previously thought.

New figures from the Beijing Centres of Disease Control and Prevention indicate that ignorance upt o 5% of gay men in Beijing have HIV.

Difficulty in getting the message about safe sex across to closeted gay men are contributing factors.

Read more at pinknews.co.uk.

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