Poignant Screenplays show what it’s like being LGBT in China

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• Publié par: siversonbernard87
• Publié le: 19 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• Licence : En savoir +
  Paternité, partage des conditions initiales à l'identique
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

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Poignant Screenplays show what

Poignant Screenplays show what it’s like being LGBT in China

What is the NEXT LGTB MOVIE?

Mondo, 25, from Hebei province, is one of the owners of Adam’s club, which he says is his special place. He decided to open the club in Sanlitun, the most popular nightlife area in Beijing, because he thinks that it’s time for LGBT people in China to stop hiding and to live their lives in the open. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Timberlake, 22, from Shanxi province, is a student at Beijing International Studies University. He identifies as asexual and loves to dance in high heels. His special place is this large corridor inside one of the buildings on campus. He likes to practice dancing here. (Teo Butturini)

Despite being decriminalized in 1997, homosexuality is still heavily stigmatized in China. It was even considered a mental illness

there until 2001, when it was finally dropped from a list of mental illnesses. Even with some of the strides made to get society to accept homosexuality, it is still difficult for many people to find acceptance. This is especially true in China’s smaller cities and rural areas. Because of this, many gay people move to bigger cities, such as Beijing, where they can live freer lives.

Photographer Teo Butturini traveled to Beijing to meet some of these people and tell their stories. With the help of the Beijing LGBT Center, Butturini found people and asked them to take him to a place that was important for each of them living as LGBT in the city. Here are some of those portraits and stories.

What is the next LGTB movie?

Wade and his boyfriend come, respectively, from Guangxi province and Beijing. Their special place is their house, the only place where they can share sweet moments together, forgetting about the world outside. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Jiayue, 22, from Shaanxi province, decided to salute Principal Zhou, the founder of her university, because in the school’s LGBT community, there is an urban legend about him being gay. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Elvans, 21 from Beijing, is still discovering his sexuality. He doesn’t know if he’s gay, transgender or both, but he likes dressing as a woman. His special place is the storage room of his university’s acting company. Acting gives him the chance to dress as a woman with no one criticizing him, but applauding him instead. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Island, 26, from Beijing, is very attached to the ancient traditions of China, especially Confucianism. His story is one of the few happy ones, with his family and friends totally accepting his sexuality. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Alex, 22, is from a village in the province of Anhui. He was still in the closet at the time of the portrait but has since told his mother he is gay. His special place is this sofa inside the offices of the Beijing LGBT Center, the first place where he found people who understood him and cared about his feelings. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Yixin, 21, from Sichuan province, is still in the closet and decided to cover her face because she doesn’t want her parents to know. Since she arrived at Renmin University, she has found a free and supportive environment and plans to come out after she finishes her studies. (Teo Butturini)

What is the next LGTB movie?

Xiao (33, from Hebei) and her girlfriend, Chen (28, from Heilongjiang), chose Xiao’s parents’ house as “their” place. They have been living together here for a while, even though Xiao’s parents don’t accept her being a lesbian and act as if she and Chen are just friends. They were to have been included in the portrait but at the last minute decided not to take part in it. (Teo