MR. GAY CHINA PAGEANT: HOW NOT TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000365

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2035
TAGS: CH PGOV PHUM SOCI
SUBJECT: MR. GAY CHINA PAGEANT: HOW NOT TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE

REF: BEIJING 109

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson
for Reasons 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (C) Summary: The last-minute cancellation by authorities
in January of Beijing's first gay beauty pageant came as no
surprise, Chinese HIV/AIDS and gay rights advocates told
PolOff February 2. The government often waits until just
prior to a sensitive gathering or event to step in, they
said. In China, these contacts argued, a gradualist approach
to social change has a much higher chance of success than
holding high-profile events to attract attention. In order
to circumvent censorship barriers regarding homosexuality, it
is best to keep a low profile and ask for "forgiveness rather
than permission," our contacts suggested. End Summary.

DON'T MAKE WAVES
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2. (C) Anticipated by many as a "coming out day" for Chinese
gay men nationwide, the Mr. Gay China Pageant attracted
considerable fanfare in both Chinese and international media
circles in the weeks leading up to January 15. About an hour
before the show was to begin at a popular Beijing nightclub,
police arrived to close the venue on the pretext that
organizers did not have a "proper license" for the event.
Zhou Yuansong (protect),a program specialist at Autodesk
Software in Beijing and a management volunteer at Aibai, a
leading Chinese HIV/AIDS education and gay rights advocacy
group, said he had not been surprised by the closure.
Although Chinese society demonstrated little open hostility
toward homosexuality (reftel),Zhou said, the PRC leadership
would remain reluctant to condone high-profile events such as
pageants and parades for the foreseeable future. It was not
unusual for officials to wait "until you push the button" to
step in and shut an event down, even though the pageant had
been widely advertised before January 15.

TEST THE WATERS FIRST
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3. (C) The pageant had detracted from the Chinese gay rights
movement because "they went about it in the wrong way,"
complained Zhou. Jiang Hui (protect),a computer programmer
who also volunteers with Aibai, agreed that the pageant had
been a strategic mistake and said such spectacles did little
to increase awareness and acceptance of the gay community
among the general population.


4. (C) Given China's political environment, incremental
change was the most prudent way forward for civil society,
Zhou said. From this perspective, Aibai was a nimble
organization because it soft-pedaled its agenda and did not
expect immediate results. Members took baby steps,
retreated, and then waited for a government reaction to gauge
what was permissible and what was not. For example, Aibai
and several other NGOs held a series of mock same-sex
weddings in the Qianmen area of Beijing on Valentine's Day

2009. Except for the organizers and "wedding" participants,
who dressed up as brides and grooms, relatively few people
knew about the photo shoot in advance. Once the
photographers started taking pictures of the couples in
various poses, curious onlookers began gathering to ask
questions. Activists then had an opportunity to explain
their views on same-sex marriage to the public. The wedding
photos later appeared on websites, in magazines, and on
postcards. Thus, publicity was generated after the fact, and
presumably there was not enough time for government officials
to react, Zhou concluded.
HUNTSMAN