In a recent wave of crackdowns by Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government, the Beijing LGBT Center has become the latest casualty. The center, which served as an advocacy group and safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community in Beijing, announced its closure in a notice posted on its official WeChat account. This development deals a critical blow to advocacy groups that had once openly championed LGBTQ+ rights.
The Beijing LGBT Center, once a symbol of China’s LGBTQ+ movement, described its evolving mission, starting as a safe space for community events and later transforming into an advocacy group aimed at improving the living conditions of the sexually diverse community. It offered low-cost mental health counseling services and published lists of LGBTQ+-friendly health professionals. The center also hosted public speakers, film screenings, and various events, featuring individuals like Mr. C, a transgender speaker who shared his experience of being let go by his employers due to his gender expression.
Despite the nationwide crackdown on human rights activists and lawyers since 2015, groups such as the Beijing LGBT Center continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, including the recognition of same-sex marriage. However, the limited space for these organizations has gradually shrunk in recent years. The prominent group, LGBT Rights Advocacy China, known for its strategic lawsuits to push for policy changes and expanded rights, was forced to shut down in 2021. The founder of the group was detained, and the organization’s dissolution became a condition for his release.
Under mounting pressure, LGBTQ+ groups face challenges in openly communicating politically sensitive events to the communities they serve, leading to confusion. Police pressure on these rights groups has intensified, with police often engaging in unofficial meetings known as “drinking tea” to monitor their activities. These encounters have transitioned from public spaces to private areas, even taking place directly in front of activists’ homes. Additionally, LGBTQ+ organizations face difficulties in official registration and often partner with officially registered groups that also experience government pressure.
The closure of the Beijing LGBT Center marks a distressing loss for the community. Over the years, the center persisted despite censorship and growing pressure. It collaborated with the United Nations Development Program on a nationwide survey in 2015, aiming to shed light on the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in China, including access to social services, healthcare, and the impact of societal attitudes.
In recent times, the center had been focusing on workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives. Its closure leaves many feeling helpless, as both large and small advocacy groups shut down or curtail their activities, eroding the hope for progress in LGBTQ+ rights. The threat to LGBTQ+ advocacy and support in China remains a grave concern, with organizations and activists facing an ever-growing pressure that shows no signs of relenting.
Note: This rewrite emphasizes the closure of the Beijing LGBT Center and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in China. It highlights the significance of the center and the broader implications of the government crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. The paragraphs are divided based on the flow of information and to enhance readability.
