Beijing Today (nicknamed 北京土豆 by its staff) is an English language weekly newspaper published by Beijing Media Corporation, whose editorial operations are owned by the state, although the newspaper group’s advertising division is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange allowing them to enjoy the fruits of Hong Kong capitalism at the same time as benefiting from Mainland socialist media laws.
This is from yesterday’s Beijing Today:
A secret underground community is preparing to step up and out of the shadows to fight for the acceptance and equality…Beijing’s lesbias (sic).
Dubbed the lala (lesbian) group, a small but growing number of gay females in the capital will go public tomorrow (Saturday) and hold their first “open” meeting. The city’s pioneering lesbians are say they are prepared to push the boundaries of acceptance in China’s conservative moral arena.
Prior to tomorrow’s meeting, the locations of lala salons were kept a closely guarded secret.
The gathering will be in a “bright comfortable” bar, revealed organizers. But such is the trepidation among members, a secret website is being used to reveal the exact location.
The first lala salon was held last November and thanks to its growing popularity, leaders believe it is now time to stand up and be counted as worthy members of Beijing’s multinational, multicultural and diverse society.
And organizer An Ke says it is time Beijing learnt more about lesbians.
- Beijing Today: We are just the same
- Image from Bingfeng Teahouse: “Chinese lesbian“