Coming out is hard to do in every society, but in China it can be even harder than in the West. However, glance around the streets and it seems that the amount of lala-looking young local girls has ballooned.

Many credit this to Li Yuchun (pictured above), the tom-boyish singer who won Shanghai’s “Supergirl” talent contest. Li has dodged questions about her sexuality but sings songs traditionally sung by guys to girls, and styles herself in a masculine or, at least, asexual way.

Li either made it OK for thousands of gay or curious girls to start expressing their sexuality more openly, or it created a media-fuelled fad for lala style. I asked some local gay girls whether Chinese lalas are coming out more today and what the consequences of this are.

“The media makes being gay seem cool,” said one. “So young girls go out and dress and act like lalas even if they are not. But this also helps others feel more comfortable about homosexuality, so those who truly are gay can express their sexuality more openly.”

I even came across the idea that some parents would welcome the idea of their daughters experimenting with other girls: “Parents who believe their daughter is a lala at a young age may actually find relief that she won’t get too close to boys,” said one friend. “The parents probably believe their daughter will grow out of the lala phase eventually, marry a man and become a good wife.”

One interviewee felt that being bisexual is even more hip than being gay, and was the preferred choice of many young girls because they always have the option of “turning back.” However, all of those interviewed agreed that simply looking like a lala and coming out are two different things. Coming out to one’s family is still a big step and one that is only taken cautiously.

I also asked about the options for girls who are gay but still closeted. The overall response was that most girls prefer to keep their sexuality hidden at work and from their families. “But outside of that they should and need to be themselves,” said one friend. “Being yourself doesn’t mean you need to declare everything to the gay community, but just be able to embrace yourself and have a girlfriend.” Most of the girls I talked to felt they still had a few more years before they had to decide when to come out to their parents. “Even though society is more accepting, to your parents it will still be hard to accept” was still the typical answer.

What do you think? Is being gay or bi fashionable in Shanghai today?