Ready or Not, Mr. Gay China is Coming out?

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Gayographic founders and organizers Niu Niu, Chief Designer, Ryan Dutcher, Communications Director, Ben Zhang, Managing Director. [Photo: Gayographic.org]

By CRI Reporter Andrea Hunt

Among the many events in Beijing grabbing attention both locally and abroad is China's very first upcoming Mr. Gay China pageant which will be held at the city's downtown LAN Club on January 15.

Unlike other metropolitan cities worldwide such as London, New York or Berlin with thriving gay communities, Beijing and Shanghai GLBT (Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) communities' options of "coming out (being publicly gay) and going out" were limited up until not so long ago.

"It's gotten a lot better. Before, you only had a couple of bars that were kind of low key that were gay; some of them were kind of sketchy," explains Ryan Dutcher, Communications Director of Gayographic, a local GLBT media, PR and event company.

Over the last few years, however, the local GLBT community's presence at gay-friendly events and venues has created a bigger awareness of their population in Beijing.

"There are a lot of businesses that are less afraid to be associated with the gay community; it's a more tolerant atmosphere now. You also have mainstream, Chinese and English language newspapers that are reporting on gay issues," says Dutcher.

At the upcoming Mr. Gay China pageant arranged by Gayographic, one winner of the pageant will be selected to attend the Mr. Gay World Ambassador 2010 pageant in Oslo, Norway this upcoming February 10-14.

"It's a competition we are holding to select a person to represent Mr. Gay China. This kind of event has never been held in China," explains Gayographic's Managing Director Mr. Zhang, who is a Chinese himself.

According to Gayographic's website, a jury of four or five will be made up of at least one of the company's head directors, Mr. Zhang from Tianjin, Mr. Dutcher from America, or Chief Designer, Mr. Niu Niu.

Gayographic has been coordinating GLBT events in Beijing since 2008 and focuses on promoting a gay friendly environment both locally and around China.

They organize general and charity events, fashion shows and business developments and manage a website that discusses issues both affecting and supporting the gay community in China.

Gayographic's directors were approached by the coordinator of Mr. Gay Hong Kong, who was looking for a group to plan such an event.

"They were impressed with what we were doing in Beijing and our ability to handle the media and organize an event of this size. The only problem was that we wouldn't have a lot of time to put it together-three months to put it together..." Ryan says.

Instead of the usual build up of pre-events the pageants usually have, Gayographic has organized one main event due to time constraints.

The candidates from Beijing are narrowed according to a standard set by Mr. World Gay Ambassador and the event at LAN Club on January 15 will feature about 7 or 8 contestants.

But both Zhang and Dutcher explain that the pageant is not about just being attractive, but being the best person to represent their own country. Of course, they should also demonstrate an interest in the world and people around him, has natural leadership skills and can be a diplomat of goodwill.

"They need to show us that they have a brain. They have to answer some questions regarding the gay issues in China," says Zhang, emphasizing that it's not enough to be good looking; the winner must be smart and funny as well.

The coordinators of Gayographic reaffirmed that they aim to not only choose one gay man to represent China in Oslo next month, but to be part of a larger community effort for understanding.

"It will shed some positive light on the gay community here in Beijing to raise some awareness and do some more good," Dutcher says.

"It's still a very small community here and we hope that it encourages more people, especially younger people, to be more comfortable with whom they are."

In total, around 200 to 300 guests are expected to attend the Mr. Gay China pageant. International companies as well as newspapers from home and abroad have expressed interests in covering the event. (China Radio International)

                               
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First Mr. Gay China pageant to be held in Beijing's LAN Club in Guo Mao area. [Photo: Gayographic.org]