In 2007, a couple of young Chinese gay men started the country’s first independent video podcast dedicated to discussing the issues that affected them and other members of China's Queer/LBGT community.

Since then their online talk show “同志亦凡人 Queer Comrades" (tongzhi yi fanren), has earned itself quite a following, and kicks off its third season with some new surprises.

“We started out as volunteers who wanted to raise more awareness in China surrounding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) issues. Now we’re working full time under the Beijing Gender Health Education Institute and we’re supported by the [Ford Foundation] (www.fordfoundation.org/regions/china,” says Xiaogang Wei, director, co-creator and co-host of the show.

“We’re immensely proud that at this moment we’ve already produced 35 talk show episodes and have attracted more than 5 million hits. And yet, there’s still so much to show and discuss.”

As Chinese society becomes more diverse and tolerant, queer culture is booming in big cities like Beijing.

“同志亦凡人 Queer Comrades" will continue to use its own mix of entertainment and free-wheeling discussion to document the intricacies of the burgeoning queer community, as well as the challenges many of its members still face.

What’s new this season?

“We’ve changed our English name from ‘Queer As Folk Beijing’ to ‘Queer Comrades’ and decided to go for a fresh new look,” says Belgian-born Stijn Deklerck, producer and on-location host of the show.

“But that’s not the most important thing. We have a brand new logo, we’ve created our own website, we’re setting up a Chinese LGBT video archive, we’ve added a news-section to our show and we’ll start working with a brand new female (lesbian) co-host.”

All will be revealed in the first episode of Season 3, which will document in reality TV-style how the new lesbian co-host was selected.

Rebirth Of Queer

To celebrate the launch of their new season and say thank you to the community, the team is throwing a huge free celebration in Beijing on Saturday 25 April at Tun Bar. Doors open at 9pm and entrance is free.

QUEER COMRADES: Rebirth Of Queer promises to be a 'homo-spectacular' of grand proportions, featuring the premier screening of the first episode of Season 3, drag shows galore, a special performance by Beijing's very own eclectic punk rock band ZIYO plus a wicked club DJ (to be announced).

A number of Chinese and Laowai (foreigner) drag queens will be making their debut performance on the night, along with newly formed drag king team 'Gender Benders', doing a very queer version of Justin Timberlake's popular song 'Sexy Back'.

Beijing based British drag queen diva herself, 'Drewzilla: Queen Of the Peasants' has been out shopping for a new dress especially for the occasion and promises this set will be her most 'fagtastic' ever.

Drink specials on the night include the 'Pink Hutong' (30rmb for a huge 600ml glass of alcoholic pink pleasure) and the 'Queer Comrade Party Rack' (100rmb for 24 shots) will no doubt have everyone tickled pink and feeling rather gay and happy.

While this event is no doubt as queer as they come, Xiaogang assures us that everyone is welcome, no matter what their sexual orientation may be and encourages those of the heterosexual persuasion to join together with their queer comrades for a night of fun, friendship and celebration.

Queer Comrades Online

The episode will be launched online Monday, April 27, on the video section of the new website – and will be simultaneously uploaded to other major Chinese video websites such as 6room.cn and sina.com, where the show has a very popular Chinese language blog

Subsequent episodes will be broadcast monthly and will cover a wide variety of topics including elderly homosexuals, parents of queer children, gay suicide and queer virtual love.

For more information, contact the show's Producer Stijn Deklerck via email:stijn@queercomrades.com or phone: (+86) 13718771633.

Director Xiaogang Wei can also be reached via email: xiaogang@queercomrades.com or phone: (+86) 13811137034.

Website: www.queercomrades.com