But even in metropolis Shanghai, tolerance is limited, as Mr. Chen and others learned this month when they planned a series of plays, film screenings, group discussions and parties called "Shanghai Pride Week". The organizers are a group of local and foreign homosexuals, who got into trouble at the last minute because city officials forced to cancel or reschedule some activities. Hannah Miller, an American who has lived in Shanghai for five years, is one of the main organizers. She doesn't even know how to plan something as brazen as a parade. She hopes that limiting activities to private places and using English as publicity materials will be enough to stop unnecessary official attention.
Finally, eight events were held as scheduled, with about 4,000 participants, and Ms. Miller thought all of them were very successful. China media have begun to report these events cautiously. Mr. Chen thinks this is a great progress and a welcome breakthrough in the common reports on AIDS or homosexual alienation in China.
But attitudes will not change easily, especially away from big cities. Traditional values emphasize the continuation of traditional family life and lineage. At the same time, the government has shown a willingness to tolerate homosexuality, but it has not done enough to provide clear protection. The tentative legislative proposal to expand gay rights was quickly ignored. The government is always careful to avoid making trouble, and routinely suppresses social activities and attempts to promote rights. Lawyers and activists who advocate gay rights are harassed, and although many gay websites are accessible, some are blocked.
Places like Eddie's Bar in the West District of Shanghai are easy to get to. It was a rarity when 1995 was opened, and now it is one of many gay hotspots in the city. This week, obviously unaffected by the confusion of gay pride, business is booming.