Post Date December, 03 2023
In a small restaurant, Li blew out the candles on his 72nd birthday cake. As a homosexual, the 72-year-old man has infinite emotions.
Li Zeng was sentenced to labor imprisonment three times for homosexuality for a total of seven years, and his personal experience also reflects the changes in the social environment of Chinese homosexuals over the past few decades. In Li's own words, he has experienced the pain and joy of life, and now he is no longer considered a "bad person". He can finally lift his head and live his own life.
At his birthday party, Li was very excited, singing and reading poetry, and occasionally took out photos of his boyfriend from his pocket. Looking at the photo, Li's thoughts seemed to have returned to the past. His first homosexual experience began at the age of 16 and lasted for four years. In that era, homosexuals were referred to as "rabbits" or other insulting names, and they could only secretly meet in parks, bathrooms, or public toilets. Back then, Li's homosexuality was not accepted by his parents, who believed that he must have been "sick". And at the request of his parents, Li had a heterosexual marriage that lasted for less than half a year, and as a result, he had a daughter, but he later cut off contact with her.
In 1977, Li was reported for homosexual behavior by another homosexual and was sentenced to three years of reeducation through labor. At that time, Li, who was still a middle school teacher, was dismissed from the school as having committed an unforgivable crime. Afterwards, Paris was sentenced to two more years in prison in 1982 and 1984 due to homosexuality.
Li recalled that even in prison, he was discriminated against by other prisoners and even thought about ending his own life. When Li stepped out of prison in 1986, he found that society's attitude towards homosexuals had begun to change, with more homosexuals active in their "circle" and the term "homosexuality" beginning to appear more in the media.
Li, who had lost his job, made a living by relying on maps and also volunteered to distribute AIDS prevention brochures to homosexuals, despite being confiscated by the police several times. Like many homosexuals, Li's boyfriend also has a wife and his own family, and Li also concealed his homosexual relationship from his adopted son.
Homosexuality is gradually being accepted by society
After entering the 1990s, the government's attitude towards homosexuals became increasingly tolerant; By 1997, the relevant legal provisions used to convict homosexuality were abolished; In 2001, homosexuality was no longer classified as a "mental illness" by the state. But despite changes in social attitudes, problems and discrimination continue to exist.
According to a 2008 survey by Professor Zhang Beichuan of Qingdao University, among 1259 gay men, 62% said they had never disclosed their sexual orientation, 35% of the respondents had ever thought of committing suicide, and 13% had tried suicide. In addition, the survey also showed that about 20% of homosexuals surveyed reported experiencing verbal or physical harm, with 9% being fired or forced to resign due to being homosexual. Another 5% of homosexuals believed that their income or career development had been adversely affected.
From the experience of 72 year old homosexual Li, it is not difficult to see the changing attitudes of the entire society towards homosexuals. Although the change in attitude is a slow process, difficulties and challenges still exist; Despite the bumpy and long path towards respect, the LGBTQ community is still pleased with this change. In Li's words, it is' the revolution has not yet been successful, comrades still need to work hard '.
