''Queer China, 'Comrade' China'' (), directed by Cui Zi’en, is a 2008 independent Chinese documentary about

homosexuality in China Homosexuality has been documented in China since ancient times. According to one study by Bret Hinsch, for some time after the fall of the Han Dynasty, homosexuality was widely accepted in China but this has been disputed. Several early Chinese ...

. The film features interviews with prominent academics and activists. Interviewees include the film's director

Cui Zi'en Cui Zi'en (), born 1958, in Harbin in the People's Republic of China, is a film director, producer, film scholar, screenwriter, novelist and an outspoken LGBT activist based in Beijing. He graduated from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences wi ...

, actress and activist

Shitou The Stone City () is the site of an ancient fortified city within Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China. Almost all of the original city is gone; all that remains are portions of the massive city wall. History The original town was built during the W ...

, sociologist

Li Yinhe Li Yinhe (; née Li Sanfan; born February 4, 1952) is a Chinese sociologist, sexologist, and activist for LGBT rights in China. Her main academic interests have been sexual norms in contemporary China, homosexuality, diverse sexual behaviors ...

and director Zhang Yuan. It covers 80 years of evolution of Chinese attitudes on LGBTQ people, ending with the 2003 Same-sex Marriage Bill.

Film Content

Organization

The film consists of 11 "chapters" that discuss aspects and periods of homosexuality in China. Topics discussed include the decriminalization of homosexuality, its removal as a mental illness, the development of queer theory in China, and the appearance of gays on Chinese television shows.

Interviewees

In order of appearance: *

* Qin Shide * Zhang Beichuan * Fuxi *

* Guo Xiaofei * Tongge *

Pan Suiming Pan Suiming (; born 1950) is a Chinese sexologist and professor at the Renmin University of China who has taught sexology for more than 30 years. He is hailed as "the First Person in Sexology in China". Early life Pan was born in 1950 to an offi ...

* Zhou Dan * Cheng Qingsong * Bai Yonggbin * Zhen Li * Zhang Yi * Lisa Rofel * Qiao Qiao * Guo Yaqi * Xu Bin * Zhitong * Binglan * DongDong * Xiangqi *

Fan Popo Fan Popo (, born in November 1985) is a Chinese filmmaker, film critic, and LGBT activist. Fan's documentaries have focused on performance-based activism (''New Beijing, New Marriage'', and ''The VaChina Monologues'') and coming out as LGBT in the ...

* Mai Kiang * Zhao Jing * Gogo *

Chung To Chung To (杜聰) is a Chinese AIDS activist, co-founder of the ''Chi Heng'' (= wisdom in action) ''Foundation'' (CHF).Paul Crook Paul Crook (born February 12, 1966) is an American guitarist known for his work recording and performing with Meat Loaf. He has also recorded and toured with Anthrax, Sebastian Bach and Marya Roxx. Biography Growing up in Green Brook Townshi ...

* Huang YingYing * Xu Gehui * Ming Ming * Hao Ting * Da Wei * Wei Jiang Jiang * Gao Yanning * Zhang Yuan * Yang Yang * Li Yu * Meng Nuo * Zhu Ri Kun * Wang Wo

Awards, nominations, and honors

Pusan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festi ...

**Official Selection * 24th Turino GLBT Film Festival **Audience Award Best Documentary *

Shanghai PRIDE Shanghai Pride () was an annual LGBT pride event held in Shanghai, China from 2009 to 2020. It was the first and largest LGBT event to take place in mainland China. Event history In 2009, the event was held for the first time from 7 to 13 J ...

**Opening Night Film *

Beijing Queer Film Festival Beijing Queer Film Festival (BJQFF), (), is an LGBT film festival, held annually in Beijing, the capital city of the People's Republic of China. It was the first LGBT film festival to be established in mainland China, founded in 2001 by the Chinese ...

**Official Selection

References

External links