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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 
---------------- 
 
¶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 
--------------------- 
 
¶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