As a person on the outside looking at the USA, I often despair at all the right wing fundamentalist “Christians” and the wild conspiracy theorist crackpots you have. I wonder if there is anyone sane or even partially in touch with reality in the USA.

Great to hear from you two guys and be reassured that there are some thinking people in the States.

From my own experience in China and with the Chinese, I agree wholeheartedly with the comments you guys have made about China, and I implore Americans to heed your words of wisdom, Drewski, about how the rest of the world views the far-too-many myopic focussed Americans. Take off those rosy star spangled glasses and see the world and the USA as it really is.

You two guys rock!

OK…some wanna point fingers at the horrible Chinese for their horrible disregard for human rights? The bar thing is just a ploy to herd “undesirables”? So how do you explain the gay bars raided in Ft Worth and Atlanta? Any of you REALLY wanna be arrogant to talk about Chinese (meaning Han) oppression of Uighurs and Tibetans? You taken a look at some of our less stellar American moments–consistent violation of EVERY treaty with an Indian tribe or nation? Interference in other countries’ domestic affairs at the behest of corporations–like Iran, where we’re still reaping the consequences almost 60 years later. Surveillance of citizens? We have that. The HARP Project is one part of a surveillance system that allows the FBI, the CIA, the NSA and other agencies–and their private-sector partners–to drop in on ANY phone call, computer activity, or financial information of ANY American. The Chinese don’t come close to that capacity, and at least they don’t deny that they do it.

Look…I’m not about to claim that this is all sweetness and light. But some of you who are just so insistent on seeing the absolute worst motives in this, you look like fools (and the rest of the world doesn’t lend you a BIT of credence) when you conveniently slide right past the ample dirt on the US end. You acknowledge that we Americans have plenty of scandal and wrongdoing of our own, you’ll find that the rest of the world might pay more attention to what you say.

Besides Shanghai and Beijing, which each have around a dozen gay establishments, most major cities in China have at least one openly gay establishment (bathhouses, bars, clubs, etc). Police interference is minimal, but does happen (think 1960′s America). As someone who is fluent in Chinese and has lived here for five years, ridiculous assertions such as China wanting to “dispose” of their gay population have no basis in reaity whatsoever. It’s absurd.

In fact, the majority of Chinese people are neutral or supportive of GLBT concerns, and very practical when presented with an argument for tolerance towards us. Ignorance, and not anger and hate like from fundamentalist Christians, is prevelant here. It is Chinese people’s pragmatic attitude that is liberalizing the struggle for GLBT people here in China, day by day.

This gay bar opening, funded by the government, is just the latest of many encouraging signs over the past few years which include (extremely popular) gay positive courses being taught at Fudan University, a GLBT film festival being held in Beijing, and Shanghai’s first ever Gay Pride celebration held just months ago.

Let’s support the struggle of our GLBT brothers and sisters in China, and not let our political views color reality.

Where are Ms. Ali Davis and the ever great Dr. Rachel Maddow tonight?

This post was mentioned on Propeller by david_nwpa: The US does not have a government run gay bar, so for China to implement such a program, albeit on a trial basis, is amazing. The Chinese are not known to be leaders for civil rights. Instead, the n…

And now the Chinese Government will be able to keep better track of them until it’s time to dispose of their gay population. Very, very scary.

On another note, this is really great for gays in China. I’m interested to see what follows from this.