Hard To Debate On Homosexuality In China

Details: Published on Friday, 04 March 2011 17:20; Written by E-Li

One of the principal pro-gay advocate in China and the writer of a national newspaper clash with declarations on homosexuality on internet.

Professor Li Yinhe, which defends gay rights and the marriage for same sex couples, was invited on the website NetEase for a discussion relating to homosexuality.

But another part of this discussion proposed an article written by Li Tie, editor of the China Times. This article, at the beginning, respects gay rights but gradually change its opinion. Li Tie wrote for example: treading carefully on the issue was “not an act of discrimination” because “conditions usually apply when protecting minorities’ rights.”

He added “The impacts of same-sex marriage include the ‘domino effect’ that it may bring upon the marriage system. Once same-sex marriage is legalised, it may lead to the debates on legalising ‘multi-partner marriage’ and ‘human-animal marriage’. If the law recognizes same-sex marriage, what about the ‘rights’ to adultery, incest or pedophilia? Does this bring a challenge to the bottom line of civilization?”

China de-penalize homosexuality recently in 1997 and until 2001, it was considered as a mental illness.

This article was followed by anti-gay comments such as: “Gays should be buried alive so that their gay disease won’t infect more people.”

Or “Do your homework well before you start to write an article like this as people will see how ignorant you are. And don’t bring up those ‘human-animal’, ‘three-people marriage’ or stories of incest again, as the attempt to represent a far vaster group with some extreme cases is clearly an act of discrimination.”

Not so easy to simply talk about being gay in China.