Being Gay in Guangzhou

While LGBTQ life persists as a foreigner you should be careful. If you get too involved in organizing locally, state security forces might come knocking on your door.

I visited Guangzhou in September, the weekend after what was supposed to be a number of celebrations for Pride at different venues. However, the authorities heard about it - and they came after a westerner who played some role in managing the event, and threatened them with deportation if all of the events were not cancelled. Also, a number of gay bars had just been shut down before I arrived and a gay night at one club was sadly about to end.

This was the last gay night at this bar...

While I didn’t experience any harassment by the authorities while I visited – I moved to a new city every few days. The US Consulate in Guangzhou even hosted to me to speak about global LGBTQ issues and many locals attended. However, often colleges dissuade students (even threatening removal of their scholarships!) from attending events like these and Chinese authorities record when Chinese citizens visit foreign embassies. They are very wary of anything that could be a “foreign influence.”

This group (notice some do not want to be pictured) is able to work together to fight HIV/AIDS but they cannot call themsevlves a LGBTQ organization.

Sometimes, you have an advantage as a foreigner in both Taiwan and China: you’re often desired to attend clubs, bars, or in other events, because you’re expected to have more money to spend (even if you don’t) and venues see attendance by the expat/western community as validation for locals to believe it's a cool, hip place. What's best about most small gay venues found in any city in China, is that they have almost continual entertainment - drag queens or sexy male dancers.

K9 Bar in Guangzhou is one of the few bars in the city.