China’s First Gay Pride Set for Tomorrow, Despite Bannings

The BBC has reported this week that Chinese officials have been working to censor parts of China’s first Gay Pride, Shanghai Pride. The pride event will be mainland China’s first large-scale Gay Pride celebration and it is set to take place tomorrow, Saturday, June 13. Although the pride celebration does not include a march or parade, organizers are holding a series of cultural events to take place at privately-owned venues and the Chinese government has been banning certain events – like the staging of The Laramie Project and a film screening of the lesbian-themed Lost in You – threatening “severe consequences” if there are not cancellations.

At ShanghaiPride.com, the event’s official website, visitors can learn more about which events have been canceled and if and when they will be rescheduled.