CHINA> Regional
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Beijing youth pave way for gay acceptance
By Monique Ross and Paul Sutherland (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-03 16:00 Although traditional attitudes towards homosexuality in China's major cities are rapidly changing fueled by the rise of a new generation, in rural China it still remains a taboo topic.
Beijing, the country's capital, has been home to a number of gay bars and clubs over recent years. But one stands out from the rest. Destination is arguably the most popular gay club in the city. The night club, near the west gate of the Worker's Stadium, springs to life with locals and foreigners every weekend. The unassuming brown building conceals hordes of young men and women, drinking, dancing and partying under dim lights. Based on their appearance, the patrons of Destination do not meet the commonly accepted stereotype. Ear piercings and flamboyant clothing – the unfairly clichéd homosexual uniform – are not as prevalent as one would imagine. Instead, the patrons of this club are identical to those in other Beijing nightspots. The only difference is elsewhere their true identity would often be concealed. At Destination, the homosexual community feels welcome. At Destination, they can be themselves. At Destination, they are at home. Australian author James West said in a recent interview with chinadaily.com.cn, young people in China are becoming more curious about gay subcultures. "There is a desire to be international, a desire to be fashionable, and understanding homosexuality is part of that movement."
"The family unit in China is of huge importance," he said. |