Expats help the push for greater LGBT rights

Revelers attend a LGBT party organized by the UK pavilion at the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Planning to move on

Sarah (not her real name), from South Korea, and her 26-year-old fiancee, Amber, from Shanghai feel equally blessed, mainly because of the attitude shown by Amber's family. Sarah came out to her parents five years ago, shortly after meeting Amber at the University of Michigan where they were both students. Sarah's parents found it difficult to accept their daughter's sexuality, but that wasn't the case with Amber's relatives, who have always been very supportive.

"Even her grandma knows about us and has no problem. It's really a fairytale. Sometimes I joke about what a freak family she has," Sarah said with a laugh.

When the couple moved to Shanghai from the US two years ago, Amber's employer, Unilever, covered Sarah's travel and relocation costs, even though they are not legally married. Sarah said she finds Shanghai very interesting and friendly, but she and Amber are planning to move to London in October because they want to "live in a place where gay marriage is legal and the relationship can be protected by law".

According to a recent survey conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association in 51 countries, 38 percent of Chinese respondents were in favor of same-sex marriage, while 34 percent were opposed.

"I hope and believe China will be one of the first countries in Asia to get there (legalize same-sex marriage)," Sarah said.

Some expat LGBT people have been at the forefront of moves to make that happen and build a more welcoming and friendly society for sexual minorities.

When ShanghaiPRIDE was born six years ago, six of the eight founders of the annual LGBT festival that celebrates sexual diversity were expats. "I told myself, I had to do this for at least two years. Then I thought 'let's make it five years'. It's now already the seventh year. I'm glad I was there at the very beginning," said one of the original organizers, Charlene Liu from Malaysia.

This year, the festival will be held from June 5 to 21, and will feature a wide range of events including bike rides, film screenings, networking events for female business professionals, panel discussions and parties.

"You know what the theme for this year is? 'Love is our future'," Liu said, revealing that she will marry her Chinese girlfriend in Hawaii in September. "Her mum loves me. There were so many years when I couldn't accept myself. People should accept themselves first. They shouldn't feel that they don't belong."

Leonelli, the former LGBT center volunteer, said he's been pleased by the rise in the number of reports about LGBT people in China, and by their tenor.

"At the end of the day, no matter whether we are Chinese or American, we have similar dreams and hopes. We want to be happy, we want to be able to express ourselves, we want to have families, and we want to live without fear of discrimination."

Contact the writer at tangyue@chinadaily.com.cn