Gay bar in Dali delays opening

• Source: Global Times
• [02:28 December 02 2009]
• Comments

But both Jiang and Zhang said they will continue the project because of their efforts to help fight AIDS and because of support from the local government.

The province is home to 23 percent of the nation's reported HIV infected cases and AIDS patients, Xinhua reported.

"A bar could invite so much controversy. This shows that in a short period, prejudice against AIDS and the gay group couldn't be eliminated," said Lu Lin, an expert with Yunnan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Beijing News quoted Jiang as saying that the local government earmarked 120,000 yuan ($17,647) to a social group who runs the bar.

Zhang said the bar was jointly funded by the Barry and Martins Trust and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The government also supported the bar.

"The government has regular AIDS prevention funds for the gay community and drug users," he said.

An unidentified person who supports rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders in Beijing said the government meant good, but handled it the wrong way.

"The gay community is vulnerable, we cannot but doubt whether the government is making a show to open it on such an important occasion as World AIDS Day," he said.

He said the government should cooperate with non-governmental organizations and protect the legal rights of HIV carriers.

Homosexual people should be encouraged to open themselves up and face the society, he added.