Stereotypically, the men will be thin, immaculately dressed and coiffed, the women burly and swathed in flannel and denim. In Shanghai, however, these antiquated notions of sexuality and dress get thrown out the window. How, then, are we expected to find each other on the streets or discover possible partners ... Read More
Bars have long served as an important meeting place for folks of a certain persuasion, and that remains the case. As tolerance grows, however, more venues are taking a crack at our queer kuai. I looked at a few places around town with gay nights to see why and how ... Read More
As a community, Shanghai LGBTers have accomplished loads, so I’m looking forward to a bright and shiny New Year with new bars, new boys, new bis and yes, a few new girls would be welcome too. Here are four developments I’m hoping for in 2012:
1. A proper ... Read More
Of all the wonderful flavors that Shangays come in, the hardest to define is bi. Straight, gay or otherwise, bis are often marginalized due to lack of understanding from all parties.
Bis often face double-edged discrimination from both inside and outside the gay community. One reason is the fact that ... Read More
Shanghai is the merry-go-round of China. There are always new people getting on and getting off. With all this variety it is sometimes nice to accessorize an evening with a new friend. Therefore, I figured it’s high time I shared some of my favorite places to gear up.
Far ... Read More
What is it about a uniform that elicits such interest? I’m not talking about your building security guard in his wrinkled grays or the crossing guard at the corner with Bono shades and white gloves. I’m talking about those high military starched collars and the rigorous training and ... Read More
Gays are everywhere, so it’s no surprise that a myriad of websites exist out there catering to the community. Here are my picks for sites offering travel advice, community-specific news and dating options. This is by no means a definitive list, but I hope it offers a decent jumping-off ... Read More
We're always wondering what life is like for our friends back home. Here resident LGBT writer, Adam Frost, compares issues facing the LGBT community in the East and West.
If you’re reading this, then–unlike me–you haven’t flown the coop for the summer and are enjoying ... Read More
Pride season is upon us. The weather is getting warmer, the rains will finally die down soon and cities all over the world are gearing up for their annual LGBT pride events. From Bangkok to Buffalo, almost every major city showcases the LGBT community, giving a much needed opportunity to ... Read More
All summer, Shanghai homos have been salivating with Pride envy as cities around the world got their gay on. Shanghai’s second ever Pride was not held during the usual summer months because the powers that be did not want to stir up too much gaytivity during the Expo. Unfortunately ... Read More
Summertime is the best time to enjoy Yuyingtang, one of Shanghai’s original live music venues. The best part is that the back of the club spills out into the park, where tables have been set up and patrons are free to mingle and sip on cold drinks (courtesy of ... Read More
Having lived in some of the world’s gayest cities, from San Francisco to London–where all it takes is heading to the local lala watering hole or simply wandering down the street with my legs wide and eyes half open in order to find a buffet of eligible ladies ... Read More
The highs and lows of drag in the Strumpet of the Orient
Shanghai can really take its toll on a woman. Speaking for myself, I am well and truly rooted after another weekend patronizing the local LGBT-friendly community. Drag in Shanghai is more about dress-up and silliness than in other ... Read More
Shanghai has (much) more than just gays
Aginger sprinkling of homosexuality cuts to the core of any cosmopolitan city. Fabulous and fashionable hats off to Pete for manning the LGBeaT, but one thing that our boy seemed to leave out of his columns is that Shanghai has more than just ... Read More
Remembering the gay old times
It's hard to say goodbye so let's not discuss it in too much detail or I might need to break out my silk handkerchief. Needless to say, this columnist, who has loved Shanghai with all of his heart, will be heading back to ... Read More
What to wear when going out in Shanghai
A few weeks ago on the streets of Beijing, after a rousing night of watching men tumble and flip at the gymnastics event at the Beijing Olympics, a friend and I wanted to head down to Beijing's infamous, and reportedly only ... Read More
What do the gays like to drink?
As part of a minority in this city, I'm used to slumming it a bit and scrapping for whatever I can get when it comes to nightlife. That's why, whenever I attend a gay event, there better be a discount or ... Read More
The Chi Heng Foundation's quest to keep Shanghai's gays safe
If you find yourself at Eddy's or Shanghai Studio and a stranger hands you a condom along with a brochure, don't be alarmed. He isn't trying to flirt with you; he's trying to help ... Read More
Are Shanghai expats homophobic?
I recently read on Fridae.com that Hong Kong actor Leung Yu Chung said that if he was approached by a flirtatious gay man, he would respond with violence. Then another blog entry closer to home caught my attention, but this time it was from an ... Read More
A gay man learns to love straight people's bars
Forgive me readers, for I have sinned. I have not been to a gay bar in over a month. No Eddy's. No Shanghai Studio. For a gay man in a crazy city like Shanghai, that's like avoiding rice ... Read More
Online social networking for gays
With many online resources relating to the gay scene in China, a gay man in Shanghai cannot function without a murse and an Internet connection. While I can count the number of gay bars and clubs in Shanghai using my two hands, counting the number ... Read More
Club LC debuts on the gay scene
Quietly sitting at home one night, I received a surprising text message. Written in Chinese, the message claimed that the largest gay bar in Asia would "warmly" open that weekend in Shanghai. As a jaded gay, I was quite skeptical of the message ... Read More
The group that unites Shanghai's LGBT community
I recently attended a brunch held by Shanghai's largest gay organization, ShanghaiLGBT. As I munched on some Moon River Diner pancakes, I noticed that most of the attendees were visibly hung-over. Sigh. Nothing new for this group of fun-loving drinkers.
For ... Read More
Shanghai's gay men are ga-ga over murses
Any gay expat in China will tell you that their gaydar goes haywire once they enter this country. Chinese guys will compliment you frequently, they will take you out to dinner and pay for it no less! All that stuff is nice ... Read More
Gay male group aims to help others
Over the last few years, Shanghai's gay movement has flourished thanks to the wonder of the Internet, particularly social networking sites like Facebook. Through these new types of media, Shanghai's gay men have become more open about their lives and connect ... Read More