China’s first gay pride festival took place last summer in Shanghai, which was forcefully shut down after it started, but was a majorly important event for the country.

This year, according to the New York Times, a Chinese contestant joined the Worldwide Mr. Gay competition, hailing from Xinjiang, a majority Muslim region of Western China and where homosexuality is forbidden by religion. His pageant name is Xiaodai Muyi. After successfully getting a Norwegian visa, he flew to Oslo to partake in the competition.

Xiaodai Muyi, China's contestant in the competition. Photo by Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

While Chinese authorities shutdown the Mr. Gay China pageant, which was the group charged with sending a candidate to the Worldwide Mr. Gay competition, it was still able to quietly make a decision.

“After the cancellation, we thought our attempt to educate the Chinese public had failed for now,” said an organizer of Mr. Gay China. “By sending someone to Oslo, I guess we’re sending out a message to the world that still China is able to send a representative.”

The fact that the Global Times, a Chinese newspaper, published an article on his participation in the Worldwide Mr. Gay competition says something about the publication’s perception of the matter. The tone of the article is positive, and it focuses on the inspiration Xiaodai Muyi has given to members of various LGBT groups in China, rather than focusing on what Chinese authorities have had to say.

Have you seen any trends in China’s gay culture? How does it blend with Chinese national culture?

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RW-3.com