Lü, winner of the Golden Horse Best Actress Award in 2010 and a born-again evangelical, had enthusiastically retweeted the homophobic comments on Sina Weibo by a Chinese pastor in Rochester, New York decrying the passage of same-sex marriage in the state.
This sparked off an intense debate that began with a call by gay activists for the boycott of Lü's movies and has hogged headlines across greater China in the subsequent week. As celebrities, writers and academics alike joined in the whirlwind of debate, the Golden Horse Awards decided to rescind its invitation to Lü to present this year's awards.
In the report on the programme "24 Hours" on the CCTV News channel, host Qiu Qiming (邱启明) held out unusually harsh words for Lü Liping, urging her to "reconsider her ways". He said, "We respect the faith of individual celebrities, and we allow them to have their own point of view on issues. But, that does not mean that we agree that a person of such influence should have the power to openly discriminate against certain communities in China."
”There is no doubt," Qiu added, "that the sexual orientation of certain people in our midst are different from the rest of us. But they are also diligently contributing to society. Gay people, like us, have the right to exist and develop themselves in society, and this right should not be overtaken by any other concept.“
And in a reference to Voltaire's famous aphorism, Qiu said in closing, "We'd like to say a word to the gay community -- and it's something we've all heard many times over -- I may not agree with the way you live, but I will defend your right to be different from me."
The state-owned broadcaster's slapping down of Lü Liping for crossing the line may be indicative of the government's wariness of the potential rise of political Christianity in China and the import of cultural clashes from the west.
Within the gay community, while many are understandably euphoric over the unexpected turn of events from the most unexpected source, there are others who remain unimpressed that this will bring about any real change.
For starters, China's nascent gay movement continues to be too fragmented and impoverished to pose any real challenge to the government on policy matters. And it will continue to remain so for the foreseeable future as it struggles to find its voice on the public square.
This article was first published by Shanghaiist on Jun 22, 2011 and is republished with permission.
(In Chinese)
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Most of these people are hypocrites anyway. Say one thing and do another when no one is looking.
Hope China will continue to strictly enforce the constitution and bring various religious groups in line.
In 2010, there were tens of thousands of 'civil unrest' incidents recorded across China, with everything from entire villages and towns rioting against the police and local party officials to countless individual acts of rebellion from families and individuals.
The last thing China's government wants is to give any religious faith - or fundamentalist fervour - spurring on even more rebellion.
So, I would expect CCTV to condemn any more anti-gay, religiously-fuelled comments by well-known people, but merely as an extension of Party will, as I said above.
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Incidentally, I agree with others, above, that the anti-religion sneering and mocking above is offensive, and juvenile. I am absolutely and completely an Atheist - but I respect Religion, and Faith. And, given the many people in China who are jailed and/or sent to labour/prison camps Every year simply for trying to FREELY practise what are some of the world's main, biggest religions - the religious orders here in Ireland, for example, Never stop publicly criticizing and blasting our Government's policies and actions, yet the Gardai (police) aren't sent to round them up - it's extra insensitive to mock faith.
It's easy to do so when there's no risk to You of being jailed for the freedom of expressing your thoughts and will - unlike the consequences forced upon many ordinary Chinese citizens, every year...
You like my new craze
Let's get together
Maybe we can start a new phase"
from - Milow: Ayo Technology
this lady should update her sense of time and place in this world. a remark like this will not do justice to her acting career.
The biggest threat to peace and freedom in the world these days is from religious fundamentalism of various types, and many secular governments are concerned about it. How to meet that threat while respecting people's religious beliefs is not an easy matter.
This woman was using her privileged position to support the denial of human rights to a group of people that she has been fed bullst about. Quite right that she was criticised for it.
Given the suffering that some religious beliefs and actions have caused, it's understandable that some of the victims become as mocking of the bullying religious types, as those types have been of other minorities. Tit for tat. Not great for dialogue though.
Is it correct that all religious beliefs need to be respected? The Jehova's Witness who was prosecuted over the death of her son because she refused him medical treatment? Cults that abuse their members sexually? Religions that involve child sacrifice in Africa and their members that carry it out in Europe?
Where in fact do you draw the line the line of respect, or is the ability to mock and disrespect the perceived craziness of a particular belief also an important freedom? Satire of religion has a long history, but now it's coming under threat.
There used to be a good Irish comedian on TV years ago called Dave Allen, all his jokes were about religion. I wonder if he would be allowed these days. Are we becoming unable to laugh at religion anymore, as we have been doing for hundreds of years, all the way back to the 13th century, Chaucer and "The Pardoner's Tale", which is certainly mocking and disrespectful of religion.
In fact even the Old Testament contains quite a lot of mocking, disrespect and horrific violence against other religions. Not very funny though. Except the bit about living in the stomach of a whale. And Methusalah. I suppose that old sarcastic song by Gershwin "It Aint Neccesarily So" counts as "mocking religion" too, these days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxo81Ok9Urk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGASvVqzOa0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ
Vast majority of laws in China are progressive. Even laws re same sex relationships are quite progressive (but long way to go) compared to other developing countries, but changing societal attitudes is an entirely different matter.
so every time i read fridae's articles about gay in china, it's all biased and seems influenced by biased-prejudiced western medias about china's issues
...no matter what things don't go well in China, it may be that the logic of diversity and logic in general guides the principles of governing rather than the tyranny of religious zealots. Not suggesting that suddenly China is a poster child for human rights (but in truth nor is the USA), rather that when human rights progress is being exhibited in the Chinese media...it's worth a moment of consciousness.
...also personally I must confess that although I abhor any persecution based on race, religion, sexuality, etc, etc...many religious groups seem ready and willing to sow seeds of prejudice, judgment and loathing out into society, sponsoring great suffering to be visited upon the disenfranchised, marginalized and minority populace. Yes this is not all religious people but it is overwhelmingly the dogmatic and doctrinal orthodoxy of most religions particularly Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Ultimately I believe people can think and socialize as they will, but their social affiliations should no be allowed to be politicized into a movement in legislation or otherwise to strip people who are different from themselves of their right to be who they are, and to live free of being victimized by perpetrators of hate crimes (often sponsored by religious cohorts).
In Peace
bearnard
so dont ever try to say that hideous comments (sorry, I really wanna use the word "hideous") before dissecting the reality happening in China.
As for the religious persecution, perhaps it is best to know what you're talking about before making such profound assumptions. From my conversations with many Chinese citizens, government officials, police, military as well as my own visual evidence, there are Churches all over China. People don't get arrested for going to church. It's against the law to try to convert, recruit, or spread religion in China. Basically that law keeps religious groups from forming large masses for protest or have influence on Chinese rule. This same reasoning is why the Dalai Lama was exiled over 50 years ago. China does not want religion involved in their government. After their review of a country like America whose laws are built on a basic foundation of religious beliefs that is easy to understand.
Even Amsterdam, which has long been known as the Gay Capital of the world has reported huge increases in violence against gays over the past few years. The USA revoked the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for military members over a month ago, yet one soldier was discharged last week for being gay (*because the new open policy has not been officially introduced into the "Uniform Code of Military Justice, UCMJ" yet. The point is, regardless of the government, culture, or family values in any country, each person must decide how to live their life. There will always be obstacles in life. Finding a way to work around those obstacles, no matter what the issue, is the key to a successful and happy life. I have met many gay male couples in China who live together. From what they tell me, their life is not much different from gay couples in America. For the most part people leave them alone, however there are always people living nearby that judge them or make fun of them, but for the most part, people leave them alone. When the Chinese culture changes, the Chinese government will undoubtedly change too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HhBA0Cqf4s
make an article about this video as well...
somehow i wonder how you view this kind of issue, particularly which perspective and values that you use, to measure the neutrality about something, and i really doubt about your comprehensive chinese, i don't think words "slams" is something CCTV did to this lady
this article, and indeed, you are the author, about a media in china (which in your point of view, controlled by government, or anyone who in power) who "slams" someone against homosexuality and seems like "defend" sexuality, the fact, it doesn't defend anyone, it just about something happens, something hot in internet media, but i do see neutrality here as a media, this neutrality probably hard to see in other medias, especially western medias, which they always right, in other hand, asian perspective, seems nothing...
i see no attacking words during whole article, which can associate the word "slams" that you used for your title
雖然你居住在內地有一段時間, 不過可能你只是鑽牛角尖看事情,當然就裏出不來了。
個個文化有它自己得觀點和價值觀, 那是無可否認得, 我看了斷片幾次, 沒發現任何詞匯可以和你的“SLAMS”相提并論, 我覺得你的觀點和中文理解能力應該要提升一些
所以我覺得,擋你要發表言論, 特別是這種比較敏感會有煽動性和容易被誤解的課題, 還是了解了狀況, 重不同角度來看事情得來龍去脈, 不偏向 不偏袒的前敵來發表
重個個讀者的反應和發表, 看得出來對事情的了解已經被你的言論給弄亂了。。。
It is refreshing.
I agree that the West is extremely homophobic, but why is it relevant at all? By the way, it's racist to link homophobia in China with Chinese culture. Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are all variants of Chinese culture (only for the purpose of this discussion here, as I totally respect these regions' cultural identities), and they are all advanced economies, but they have very different levels of gay liberation, no matter in terms of legislation or public opinion. It all depends on in each region how much ordinary people, gay or straight, have fought for gay rights.
Mother Nature knows best - listen to what she's trying to tell us - there are too many people on this planet - stick your dick where it doesn't pro-create or wrap it up. If there wasn't another baby born in Asia for the next ten years, there would still be too many people.
Being gay is natural and naturally, I'm gay.
Anti-loonies is better than anti-gay. One step at a time.
People can belief in whatever they want - no matter now weird it may seem to others. As long as they don't try and force that belief onto others. Problem is, it is never that clear cut to the religious.
The problem comes when believers seek to convert others (why not, as they are already on the "right" and "perfect" path!) It is inevitable that god then tells them to do whatever is necessary to spread their beliefs and impose their values.
Religion can induce non-thinking blind following. Cos god-says. That just increases the likelihood of stupidity (forget an oncologist, just pray to fix cancer), bigotry (people who are x, y, z are inhuman), and craziness (god says to kill my kids).
Believers want the freedom to believe and practice their religion. I support that.
But at the same time, they also want to impose their values and rules on everyone. By changing the laws, changing school curricula, and by violence.
They seek to take away other's rights even as they demand the same rights.
That is sick.
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