Written by Chen Lidan
Published on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013
Globalist Report
The two men posted photos of their wedding, complete with a crooked bow tie for the groom and a dress for the bride, on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
The reaction from thousands of internet users around China has ranged from mockery and condemnation to kindness and support.
One of the men, a retired teacher, fell in love with the other, a water delivery man, after the latter delivered water to the former’s house. They revealed their romance online in mid-January, holding their wedding on Jan. 30 in Beijing’s Pinggu district.
Although they have not provided their real names or ages, the couple refer to each other a “dabao” and “xiaobao” (“Big treasure” and “little treasure,” respectively), terms that are commonly used by Chinese couples to refer to each other.
Their wedding was broadcast live on a Chinese video-sharing website to seek blessings from other internet users, despite objections from one of the men’s sons.
“Our love will not be undermined even though we come from different backgrounds. We will accompany each other forever and will never separate,” read a post on their micro blog.
In 2005, the China Daily said in a report that the number of homosexuals on the Chinese mainland may be about 30 million, although the report conceded that most Chinese would not openly declare their sexuality.
The open discussion of sexual orientation is a good thing, said Steven Leo Nellie, a consultant with the Beijing LGBT Center, an organization that provides social services and advocacy programs for local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
However, homosexuality is still taboo in China. Some internet users were critical of the wedding and the couple involved.
Sina Weibo user “xinsurujiang” used the phrase “abnormal psychology” to describe the couple.
Other users, however, were more supportive. User “mipudaimaobai” said that what the couple needs most is not understanding, but simple respect.
In China, it is not uncommon for gay men to marry women and have children due to significant social pressures from their relatives and society, as many Chinese believe that continuing a family’s bloodline is an inescapable obligation for men.
Psychologist Xia Yuan said people should have a more rational attitude and show more consideration toward homosexuals.
Pressure on homosexuals mostly comes from society, rather than their sexual orientation itself, Xia said, adding that accepting and understanding the group can reflect the progress of a country’s society.
Chen Lidan is an author from the People’s Daily Online – The People’s Daily Online, founded on Jan. 1, 1997, is an online version of the popular People’s Daily – one of the world’s top ten newspapers. The People’s Daily offers 16 versions of its online publication in 15 languages