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SmSh: So what鈥檚 the latest? Is it all going off as planned or are you getting last minute hassles from the Man?
Charlene: There are very few hassles. They always come around and ask basic questions like who we are, what are we doing. We鈥檙e straight with them. We tell them exactly what we鈥檙e planning and the venues where we鈥檙e doing it, and so far they鈥檝e been OK. They just want to know. They don鈥檛 say, 鈥淥K this is allowed,鈥� they don鈥檛 say it鈥檚 not allowed, they just take note and then leave.
The thing is, we鈥檙e not a political group, we are not activists, we just want to show people that there is an LGBT community, that we鈥檙e normal people, we have jobs, we go to school, we fall in love and we can be happy. That鈥檚 why this year our slogan is: 鈥淒on鈥檛 Change, Don鈥檛 Hide, Be Proud.鈥�
You think Shanghai鈥檚 getting more tolerant?
Charlene: In general, yes. I think it鈥檚 more tolerant than in my own country, Malaysia, or even Singapore, where I used to live. People don鈥檛 criticize or give you a hard time for being part of the LGBT community. They think it鈥檚 none of their business unless a member of their own family comes out as gay. Then it might be different.
Could we ever get to a stage where ShanghaiPride involves a parade, like in other cities around the world?
Charlene: [Howls of laughter.] I don鈥檛 think so. First, Pride doesn鈥檛 have to be a parade, it鈥檚 just a celebration and you can celebrate anywhere, with friends, indoors, by the pool. Pride is just about being proud, whoever and wherever you are. For a parade to happen, a whole lot of other things would have to happen first.
All we really want to do is show non-LGTB community that we exist and that we鈥檙e normal too, we鈥檙e just human beings. Same thing for those who are thinking of coming out but are apprehensive. We want to show them how happy we are and how it鈥檚 possible to live a happy, openly gay life.
This year鈥檚 focuses on this topic. There will be parents from China and the US sharing experiences of their kids coming out, and there will be a film related to that. In Chinese and English. Ultimately, it鈥檚 all about focusing on positivity, showing the positive experiences people have had with coming out and being proud of their sexuality.
The last two years you held Pride at the tail end of summer. This year you鈥檝e moved it back to spring. How come?
Charlene: This time of year is just more fun, the weather is warmer and people want to come out and go for a swim or have a picnic, and we wanted to include those activities. Everywhere else in the world, Pride is in June. We want to be part of that. It鈥檚 a celebration feeling when it鈥檚 in early summer, and everything gets more colorful.
Who鈥檚 invited to Pride: Is it for the LGBT community, is it for us foreign devils, is it for families with kids?
Charlene: It鈥檚 for everyone. We want to invite our straight friends and family as well as the LGBT community. People who are still hesitant about their sexual orientation, families -- we welcome everyone. Cinco de Mayo isn鈥檛 just for Mexicans. St. Patrick鈥檚 Day isn鈥檛 just for the Irish, everyone celebrates those occasions, so why not Shanghai Pride? It鈥檚 a yearly event that everyone can celebrate and show they鈥檙e proud of who they are.
What鈥檚 your best bits about this year鈥檚 stuffs?
Charlene: The is going to be big. That鈥檚 at . The closing party is at . We also have the coming back, that鈥檚 at . The is swimming, again, like the first year. That鈥檚 going to be good. People get competitive. They鈥檙e really serious about beating each other in the sports day. It鈥檚 great to watch.
What do you hope will be Pride鈥檚 legacy?
Charlene: We are really excited this year because all the profits will go to the creation of an LGBT center in Shanghai, a space for everyone to gather, to distribute information about gay issues, sexual health, to bring the community together, organize events and just have a meeting place in Shanghai. We don鈥檛 know where it鈥檚 going to be yet or how it鈥檚 going to work, but that鈥檚 the aim of this year鈥檚 Pride. Last year we had something similar for a while, but the building was redeveloped and we lost the venue.
We also donate a portion of any profits to the , which supports children who have Aids, and the Leyi Foundation, which helps sex workers get information and health care. To raise the money, everyone at Pride works for free. Without the support of volunteers and sponsors we couldn't do anything.
So you want to big-up your supporters and sponsors?
Charlene: CHAI Living City Moments, Ice Cream Truck, , Indulge, the French, German, Spanish and Dutch Consulates have given us amazing support, , City Weekend, , Shanghai Studio, Angel. , who came up with our advertising campaign, they also did an amazing job. And Wasavy fashion, they鈥檙e doing all our T-shirts. We鈥檙e going to sell them at the July night market .
What about the mainstream media in China?
Charlene: The media knows what鈥檚 going on but they want to wait and see what鈥檚 worth reporting. We hope this year we鈥檒l have more positive news. In the past it鈥檚 been more about the problems we鈥檝e had with the authorities. Life is not about struggles鈥� OK it is partially about struggles, being in the LGBT community, but we want to emphasize that there are so many good things happening and so many good things that can come from coming out, from being open and not hiding.
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For the full line up of what鈥檚 going on and where, see the ShanghaiPride website. We have most of the Pride events listed along with venues and details . Below are some highlights:
June 15
Free art opening. 鈥淏eing Oneself 鈥� Code of Nude鈥� by Korean painter/photographer, Hoon Choi, 7pm at from 11am-2pm.
The official opening party at .
June 20
Trivia night at , free.
June 22
Pool Party at . Free, 2-10pm.
Closing party at
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