BEIJING, Nov. 17 -- THE registration of a homosexual student group at one of the country's prestigious universities has been hailed as a "landmark event" by a sexologist and denounced by some parents.

    The Rainbow Group will study homosexuality and oppose sexual discrimination, according to Ai Xiaoming, the group's tutor, who is also a professor.

    The group obtained permission from Zhongshan University in Guangdong Province and became the first of its kind in the country.

    Controversial sexologist Li Yinhe hailed it as "a landmark event" and "historical progress" on her blog.

    Ai said the time is right for such clubs. "It's wonderful to see the Rainbow Group set up because it shows that a state university in China has given way to students with different sexual orientation and is willing to hear their voice."

    However, some parents are worried. They consider homosexuality a disgrace to their family. According to Li, one boy's mother attempted suicide when she discovered her 24-year-old son was gay.

    Xue Yong, the parent of a university student, is against the Rainbow Group and worries other universities will follow with similar clubs.

    "If anyone in my daughter's university dares to give a lecture advocating new types of sexual relations and attacking traditional family values, I will sue the university," Xue said. "I believe parents are just as worried about gays as they are about sexual liberation."

    Most big universities across the country have gay and lesbian forums on their Websites.

    In 2003, Beijing University held the First Beijing Homosexual Film Festival. Shanghai's Fudan University opened a course on homosexual research in 2005.