Out and Proud: Shanghai’s LGBT Scene

Out and Proud: Shanghai’s LGBT Scene
By Susie Gordon , eChinacities.com


Although Shanghai still has some way to go before being gay is totally acceptable, it is almost certainly the best place to be if you identify as LGBT in China. The first Gay Pride event in Mainland China took place here back in summer 2009, and there’s no shortage of bars, clubs, mailing lists and groups (including ShanghaiLGBT) to connect the gay community.

Shanghai’s gay nightlife is the most diverse in China. Whether you’re a fan of dance music, or prefer a quiet glass of wine in a neighborhood bar, you’ll find something you like. Clubbing fans gravitate to D2 in the Cool Docks, while the more sedate tongzhi drink at legendary neighborhood bar Eddy’s. The nearby Shanghai Studio combines wall-art with neon-lit nooks and rooms, and holds a 100 kuai open bar every Thursday night. Expat favorite The Fat Olive switches sides every Sunday night between 6pm and 10pm, with three drinks for 100 RMB.

The gay lexicon in Chinese contains some interesting slang, including “rice queens” for men who prefer Asian partners. The Rice Bar takes its name from this phenomenon, and is a mecca for Westerners who are attracted to Chinese guys.

Shanghai’s lala (lesbian) community is well connected thanks to the Yahoo group lesinshanghai. They hold regular events, including a drinks night at Cotton’s on Anting Lu on the second Tuesday of every month. Younger lesbians get their kicks at Red Station in the Former French Concession – Shanghai’s oldest lala venue. It tends to get rowdy, especially at weekends, and the older crowd tends to prefer Focus.

The story of Gay Pride in Shanghai echoes the city’s attitudes towards homosexuality. The inaugural event in summer 2009 fell foul of the authorities, and many events were closed down partway through, or stopped from going ahead. Gay Pride 2010 took place in October after the Expo finished, and was a far greater success. Most events went ahead without a glitch, implying that attitudes are changing.

However, while being out and proud may be growing more acceptable with every year that passes, the sad truth remains that the older generation still tends to disapprove. Family pressure means that the majority of gay men and women enter heterosexual marriages. Parents rely on their only son or daughter to produce grandchildren, and view homosexuality as a threat to the prized family name. Gay men who have been forced into straight marriages meet up at the Lai Lai Dancehall in Hongkou. They practise ballroom dancing, watch drag shows and meet friends and lovers. Unfortunately, this is the only place where they can truly be themselves, but as attitudes change, secrecy and shame will hopefully be a thing of the past.

Venue info:

D2 View In Map
Add: 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu (near Fuxing Dong Lu)
地址:上海市,时尚老码头, 中山南路505号, 近复兴东路,
Tel: 021 6152 6543

Eddy’s View In Map
Add: 877 Huaihai Zhong Lu (near Tianping Lu)
地址:上海市, 淮海中路1877号, 近天平路,
Tel: 021 6282 0521

Shanghai StudioView In Map
Add: No.4, Lane 1950 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xingguo Lu
地址:上海市, 淮海中路1950弄4号, 近兴国路,
Tel: 021 6283 1043

The Fat Olive View In Map
Add: 6/F, Silver Court Complex, 228 Xizang Nan Lu, near Huaihai Lu
地址:上海市, 西藏南路228号6楼, 近淮海路,
Tel: 021 6334 3288

The Rice Bar View In Map
Add: 532 Fahuazhen Lu, near Dingxi Lu
地址:上海市, 法华镇路532号, 近定西路,
Tel: 021 2110 9881

Red Station View In Map
Add: 4/F, 200 Taikang Lu, near Sinan Lu
地址:上海市, 泰康路200号4楼, 近思南路,
Tel: 021 6415 8695

FocusView In Map
Add: 1/F, Harbour Ring Plaza, 730 Yan'an Xi Lu, near Xizang Zhong Lu
地址:上海市, 延安西路730号, 近西藏中路,
Tel: 021 1685 7806

Lai Lai DancehallView In Map
Add: 2/F, 235 Anguo Lu, near Zhoujiazui Lu
地址:上海市, 安国路235号2楼, 近周家嘴路,
Tel: 021 2174 739

Warning:The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: LGBT Shanghai Gay Bars Shanghai Queer Communities Shanghai Lesbian Bars Shanghai Lala Bar Shanghai

0 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.