gay culture and identity in Asia

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Just wondering what anyone knows about gay culture and identity in Asia. I know that it is a very recent and very Western phenomenon; that given the necessity of marriage and child rearing in Asia- especially in areas where children mean workers and your family is necessaryfor survival. Also given the unnatural gender percentages and differing gender idenity ideas I am very curious to see if "gay" exists in Asia and what it looks like.
DEAN

[Anonymous]

I don't know too much about gay culture in Asia... but from what I've heard from discussions with friends who have visited South East Asia (SEA) and other East Asian countries is that it seems to be looked down upon more in East Asian countries. I'm not sure what SEAsian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, etc) think about gay culture, but my friends have mentioned that they would see more people dressed in drag and walking around on the streets. They wouldn't see this as much in Japan, Korea, or China.

Similar to the discussion of AIDS, many Asian countries tend to be more hush hush about certain topics such as homosexuality. People know that it's around, but it's not something that's acknowledged and discussed in schools and families. Asian Americans tend to have more knowledge about it because it's discussed here in the US. However, in Asia, these things tend to be more on the "newer" side because issues are not immediately acknowledged. It takes a lot of time before someone (families, government, etc.) decides to make this an issue to be addressed with all.

[Anonymous]

I am sure there is. In fact, I believe a few years ago, East Asian Languages and Literatures did a film festival of a homosexual couple in Asia. Therefore, it exists but it just might not quite be "out" yet.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the statistics but I am sure homosexuals do exist in Asia. I am sure it would be harder on the family. I seen a Chinese movie years ago about a family struggling to find out that their son was gay. He was also struggling to "come out of the closet". Unfortunately, I don't know the title of the movie. Wasn't there a Hong Kong singer, that commited suicide a couple of years ago because he couldn't deal with being gay? I am probably generalizing that it might be harder on the family and the individual to deal with....but since it seems like the Asian men are more male dominated group. I know in the case of my family, my dad used to say to my brothers when they cried was that "men rather bleed than cry" From my understanding and interaction with Asian men (my family and parents' friends), men have to be "Macho". I would assume that would get in the way of being open about their sexual orientation. But of course, I haven't done any research on this but I would like to find some.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify; I am not suggesting homosexuality does not exist there. There is a difference between gay identity and homosexuality. Gay idenity came about when people had the freedom to socially and economically break away from family units, and probably when their culture could handle it as well. Same sex love I'm sure has existed forever, but I know in Russia for example there is a whole different view of it even among the homoseual community itself.

I have seen a movie on a gay relationship called Happy Together, but in the movie the couple is living in South America.

[clay dube]

Some may be interested in the Stanley Kwan film Lan Yu. Kwan is a Hong Kong director who adapted the film from an internet novella. Lan Yu is the name of a young fellow who captures the interest of a successful businessman.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292066/

Kwan presented the film at UCLA some time ago. He reported that he had no trouble at all when he put out the Beijing casting call. The businessman is played by a well-known film and television actor.

***
In general, close same sex friendships are common in most of Asia and it's far more common to see friends holding hands or walking arm in arm. These friends are not assumed to be gay. There is prejudice against homosexuality and in some places it is illegal.

In China, homosexuality was only recently removed from the list of symptoms of mental illness. Tolerance is slowly increasing. But few individuals or organizations have emerged and attempted to assert a distinct gay identity.

In Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, the former vice-premier who had the temerity to challenge his boss was jailed and charged with sodomy and corruption. Malaysia is a predominately Muslim nation. Take a look at this Time interview from 2000. It's entitled "Homosexuality is a crime worse than murder."
http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/interviews/2000/09/26/int.malay.gay2.html

[Anonymous]

Damn those Westerners for making homosexuality so much fun!

Thanks for the article, Clay. Quite frightening. I wonder how many people report people they don't like as homosexuals. Apparently accusation is enough. And if homosexuality is the new fashion what sexuality in the big evil West will be popular next season you think?
Frightening and ghastly.

DEAN

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