China Cancels First Gay Pageant

Police shut down China's first gay pageant Friday night, arriving at the Beijing nightclub an hour before the event and saying it was not properly licensed. Although participants hope the contest would help change the overall attitude toward homosexuality in China, where it was classified as a mental illness until 2001, police believed it was still "a sensitive issue." One of the eight contestants, Xue Fei, said, "In China, the population of gay people is large, but many of them cannot live in the sunshine. I really hope we can live with our heads held high and face the world happily." Due to the heavy coverage, many believe the cancellation was not a setback, but contestants are upset they will not have the chance to take part in the Mr. Gay Worldwide final in Norway next month.