Chinese Homosexuality Research

Author: Liu Daling/Ru Longguang, Editors
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Homosexuality in China has long been shrouded in mystery, regarded as a taboo subject, and kept hidden. In reality, this phenomenon has objectively existed from ancient times to the present, and it is undeniable that it deserves the attention and concern of all aspects of society. This book, edited by Professor Liu Daling and Professor Ru Longguang, analyzes both ancient and modern homosexual individuals and conducts over 2,000 case studies from clinical psychology and sociological perspectives, hoping to promote a correct attitude toward homosexuality and help homosexual individuals overcome feelings of inferiority, humiliation, and even despair.
Overview and Causes of Homosexuality Research in China Since the 1980s, homosexuality research and the topic of homosexuality and public policy have gradually become hot social issues and areas of focus in China (Mainland). Several research monographs have been published, and some media have begun to provide positive coverage of homosexuality. Key events include:
1981: The journal Dazhong Yixue published Zhang Mingyuan's article on the phenomenon of homosexuality in Dream of the Red Chamber.
1985: The journal Zhuyue Jiankang published Ruan Fangfu's article Homosexuality: An Unsolved Mystery, viewing it as a normal phenomenon.
1990: Gu Xueqi conducted a survey of 111 male and female homosexual individuals in Shanghai and published his research report the following year.
1991: The Chinese Academy of Health Sciences, under the leadership of Director Chen Bingzhong and assistant Wan Yanhai, began health education and research targeting the homosexual population.
1992: Pan Suiming conducted a survey of homosexual behavior in four cities, including Beijing, and the project was included in the national AIDS prevention program. That same year, Li Yinxiang and Wang Xiaobo's case study research Their World on homosexuality was published.
1994: Zhang Beichuan's theoretical monograph on homosexuality Homosexual Love was published.
October 1994: The "AIDS and Special Issues Symposium," chaired by Qiu Renzong, was held in Beijing.
1995: Qiao Gan's article A Social Issue Worth Taking Seriously (Homosexual Love by Zhang Beichuan) was published in both Hong Kong and mainland China's Wenbao, introducing the severe prospects of AIDS in China and advocating for "understanding" the homosexual population while calling for attention and prompt resolution of the issue. That same year, Fang Gang'sliterary work Homosexuality in China was published; the journal Renzhi Chuqi published personal accounts by homosexual individuals in mainland China titled Yearning for Happiness.
1997: Qiu Renzong's book AIDS, Sexuality, and Ethics was published, offering an in-depth exploration of human sexual orientation and homosexuality from an ethical perspective, critically analyzing and refuting the views that homosexuality is moralized or pathologized. The book also discussed the relationship between AIDS, sexuality, and sexual minorities from an ethical standpoint.
1997: Zhang Beichuan's team launched research on homosexuality and actively created conditions for health intervention programs targeting the homosexual population.
August 1997–February 1998: The professional journal Mental Health Communication held an open debate on homosexuality.
1998: Li Yinxiang's book Homosexual Subculture was published, building on case studies and research to supplement Their World.
February 1998: The health intervention project for the homosexual community Friendship Letters was launched. This project has now gained support from the domestic scientific community, the Ministry of Health, and a large number of homosexual individuals, making it one of the most influential such projects in China.
March 27, 1998: Wei Hongling's article Focusing on Homosexuality was published in the second edition of Nanfang Zhoumo, discussing tolerance and discrimination issues toward the homosexual population.
April 18, 1998: The People's Daily's seventh edition published an article titled Facing the Social Transformation Period, acknowledging the "important achievements" of Pan Suiming in "less-discussed fields" such as "research on high-risk groups for AIDS in China" and affirming the value of sexological research on special populations.
May 31, 1998: Beijing People's Radio's Life Hotline program broadcast an expert interview on the topic of homosexuality.
1998: The journal Hope's sixth issue featured a 21-page titled Understanding Homosexuality, publishing articles by experts such as Ma Xiaonian and four homosexual individuals, which was significant for homosexual individuals in affirming and accepting themselves.
November 1998: Qiu Renzong chaired the "Academic Symposium on Chinese Women and Feminist Philosophy" in Beijing, which included a session on "Homosexuality."
October 1999: Qiu Renzong hosted the "Women's Symposium Toward the 21st Century—Dialogue Between Feminists and Lesbians" in Beijing, where both sides engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on shared concerns such as equality and respect.
November 1999: At the Beijing Xiangshan Science Conference, jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, Zhang Beichuan edited the conference volume Strategies toAIDS Epidemic in China, aiming to draw the attention of the scientific community, national authorities, and high-level leaders to public policies on homosexuality and AIDS prevention. The volume included Zhang Beichuan's team's 1998 and 1999 surveys on same-sex/bisexual individuals, high-risk AIDS behaviors among men who have sex with men in mainland China, and influencing factors; research and reflections on homosexuality from experts in psychology, sociology, ethics, and feminism; and the homosexual population's perspectives on various issues related to themselves.
March 2000: The People's Daily's internal reference introduced Zhang Beichuan and his health intervention project for the homosexual community Friendship Letters.
2000: The international-facing journal Huasheng Yuebao's fifth issue published an article titled New Survey on China's Homosexual Population by reporters Deng Meifang and Rong Weiwei, marking the first time a mainstream media outlet in China published a lengthy piece on homosexuality in a positive light.
November 2000: The "Homosexual Love/AIDS Issues and the Friendship Project Symposium" was held in Beijing, marking the first time non-governmental organizations in China and homosexual individuals engaged in direct, positive communication.
April 2001: The Chinese Society of Mental Science approved the Chinese Classification and Diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders (Third Edition) (CCMD-3) (Shandong Science and Technology Press, 2001.4), which no longer broadly classified homosexuality as a "mental disorder" (or "psychological deviation" or "sexual perversion") but only recognized it as a disorder when an individual struggled with self-acceptance or adaptation issues.
October 2001: Consensus and Suggestions on Homosexual Love/AIDS Issues was distributed to multiple academic fields and media. This document proposed advocacy for the rights of homosexual individuals from multiple perspectives, with over 90 individuals from approximately 10 disciplines and social sectors endorsing it.
November 2001: The "China AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control Conference" was held, with a special discussion on the relationship between male-to-male sexual contact and AIDS prevalence. Over 10 homosexual individuals participated in the conference. Rong Weiwei delivered a speech titled AIDS Prevention and the Lives and Rights of Homosexual Individuals.
2001–2002: Four projects targeting the male homosexual population were launched in Yunnan, Sichuan, Beijing, and Qingdao, funded by the China-UK AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control Project Office.
June 2002: The China AIDS Association conducted AIDS prevention knowledge training for over 40 homosexual volunteers in several provinces and cities.
In my view, the reasons for the growing attention to homosexuality research in China include:
(1) Since the reform and opening-up, international exchanges have expanded, and the domestic environment has become increasingly relaxed, fostering more communication among homosexual individuals, between homosexual and heterosexual individuals, and between homosexual individuals and academia, which helps experts and the public dispel the mystery and misunderstandings surrounding homosexuality;
(2) As awareness of international homosexuality situations and research outcomes grows, the homosexual population in China has become more active, and their demands for rights inevitably draw societal attention;
(3) The development of feminist theory and practice in China has made discourse and theoretical frameworks such as mainstream and marginal, power and equality, and discrimination and anti-discrimination central to discussions on homosexuality, promoting a deeper understanding and reflection on the phenomenon;
(4) With the global and Chinese threat of AIDS looming, the homosexual population, as one of the high-risk groups for AIDS infection, has garnered special attention in China, sparking public policy discussions on homosexuality.