New trends

    Another hazard of shaming gays back into the closet is the emergence of "gay for pay", or "money boys" who are not really gay but offer sexual services for money and are often involved in extortion schemes. These people take advantage of gay people's fears that their true identity will be uncovered. As a consequence, robberies and even murders have been reported.

    According to Zhang Beichuan, a Qingdao-based expert on the issue, 38 per cent of gays have been hurt because of their sexual encounters; 21.3 per cent have been hurt by straight lovers and 21 per cent have been victimized when their identity was exposed, suffering insults, beatings or blackmail.

    For all the negative news, life for gays in China has improved on the whole. The Internet plays a big part. Gays used to believe they were the only ones in the world who were different, and now they can turn to online communities for help, to socialize, and date. Many love stories have been posted on the net, and many people find that homosexual love can be just as romantic, passionate or heart-breaking as a heterosexual affair.

    Gay bars have sprung up all over the metropolitan landscape. Here people can mingle in a normal setting, away from sleazy bathrooms and dirty public toilets where they are putting their health at risk. But "money boys" often mar the scene instead.

    Most encouraging are the hotlines and health centres that have cropped up in cities like Shenzhen, Chongqing and Hangzhou. Homosexuals can consult specialists for psychological and medical help. Tests for HIV and venereal diseases are offered free, with guaranteed anonymity.

    Meanwhile, Gu Du has not given up hope of his parents' acceptance. But each time he calls them, they hang up.

    He should probably send them a book by Li Yinhe, China's top expert on homosexuality, or words by Wang Xiaobo, Li's late husband who was himself a renowned social commentator: "Any sexual relationship that is long-term, stable and built on love should be respected. Gays should take a positive attitude towards life."

(Source: China Daily)

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