Two men in Beijing celebrated their union amongst some 50 friends in a restaurant on Saturday, according to media reports.
Da Wen and Xiao Qiang (not their real names), whose marriage is not legally recognised under Chinese law, want to be an example to other gay couples in the country. Aside from it being an act of their commitment and love, they say their marriage is also a bid to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS, according to Shanghai Daily.
According to another report about the marriage in the People’s Daily, the wedding ceremony was hosted by Xiao Dong, director of the Beijing Rainbow Volunteer Station on HIV/AIDS prevention, who was quoted as saying that same-sex marriage could help people in the gay community prevent AIDS as marriage could seal relationships and avoid rapid changes in sex partners.
"Their marriage is a remarkable move in the gay community because a settled-down relationship helps reduce the chances of AIDS infection," said Xiao.
He added that the lack of a law to regulate same-sex marriages in China made it difficult for gay couples to maintain their relationships.
People in gay communities would often have several sex partners due to the absence of law, thus dramatically increasing the risk of them getting AIDS, Xiao said.
Statistics from a 2010 Health Report conducted by the Beijing Health Bureau show among the 1,233 new HIV/AIDS cases last year in Beijing, the ratio of male to female was 7.62: 1, with 60 percent of new infections contracted by man-to-man sexual relations.
"Each attempt to fight the spread of AIDS is worth trying, including getting married," Xiao said in an interview with Beijing Times.
The Shanghai Daily also reported that Da Wen, a Beijing native, only came to the realisation that he is gay three years ago after he had married and become a father. He had told his wide and asked for a divorce but she refused, not wishing her child to be the product of a broken home. The report noted that Da's "marriage" to Xiao Qiang does not qualify as bigamy because Chinese law doesn't mention gay marriage.
The report additionally quoted a staff member of an organisation that provides help for sex workers who disagreed that marriage is effective in preventing HIV/AIDS.
Tony Zhen, director of Shanghai Leyi, was quoted as saying: "It's hard to understand the relation linking marriage and AIDS prevention."
Zhen said gay people might still have other sex partners even after marriage, and if a spouse found out about a love affair, there was no marriage law to protect him.
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Reader's Comments
So good for these guys! SO tough with the social, family and cultural pressures that make one marry there. Good for them now they are free!
I find those guys so courageous. I can understand.. even myself i made my coming-out after 35 years of marriage with a woman. I'm a canadian. Imagine how can it be difficicult for a chinese guy... congratulations to them
It's great news that they took the initiative to get married and I congratulate them. The BIG news will follow: how the authorities in China will deal with it. Let's wish them well and hope that the authorities in China are big enough, bold enough and mature enough to accept it.
加油！
Time and again, conjugal commitments once eagerly entered into become broken when there is infidelity, financial hardship or one of a myriad of reasons or a combination of reasons. Some of these broken promises are tolerable or reparable, some not.
The sad truth is that there isn’t a piece of paper, a ring, a set of laws or a punishment that is sufficient to bind the will to love mutually should that will fails.
I am of the opinion that marriage, straight or gay, should be abolished worldwide; instead, we are to care for one another, some more lovingly than others, in accordance with the degree of chemistry between two persons and the depth of our own conscience.
Political changes have to come in Malaysia otherwise we will remain backward looking.
I can say this is being 'looked' at currently.
However, we still have Religeous issues to deal with which is a dilemma. Our people know this.
"If you are gay and you marry a woman and have a family to hide your sexuality". Say, if you feel happy when you make someone painful?
You can't be infected with AIDS. That's very well into untreated HIV infection. By saying that you're instilling stigma and fear in HIV infection, and assuming all HIV infection cases lead to AIDS, which is not necessarily true. Sigh.
Many gays that i know/i seen are not respect in relationship. they are just looking for sex or ONS (one night stand) relationship (or sex partner) in fridae or facebook or thru other gay websites. I cant really tolerate this kind of gay guys.
I believe both party when they settled down, they will move forward more to their life style, living standard or career movement as well.
At last but not least, to all other gay guys, please do not hunts around especially people who had bf. It is not good and i always believe in karma. Ensure that the person u looking for sex are single and available. I have seen many gay guys doing that here. Sad to said that, straight ppl will look down on us cos they tot all gay guys are easily get AIDS.
Cheers to Da Wen and Xiao Qiang. Happy together!!!
congratulations :)
Over my life I have met many men that have dont this and the lives they have damaged litter their paths... PLEASE dont tell me that I dont understand the asian way of life . That is totally a cop out if your not true to yourself then you cant be true to anyone in your life ok enough said ..As far as the couple in Chine didnt impress me they really didnt do anything to change the situation and again too afraid to give their own names??? mmmm
How can anyone not know he / she is gay ??? only after marriage and a child ? hhmmmmm
I knew I was one when I was in kindergarten . Hope he knows what he is doing. All the best to the child , to his wife and to him !
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