In Pride Month, we ventured far: how do you lesbians* live in China? In a complicated and lengthy process, we managed to get in touch with a brave Chinese woman who is willing to share her story. Welcome her.
Can you introduce yourself please?
My name is Jiaqi Zheng. I'm from China and now also live in China. By profession, I am a data analyst. My hobbies include listening to music, watching movies, and traveling. Recently I have gotten hooked on watching women's volleyball matches.
I don't think that my lesbian status has affected my life in a bad way. Basically, my friends are all aware of my sexuality. The most important thing for me right now is to live with my girlfriend and plan for the future.
Good to hear. I had the impression it is not too easy for LGBT people in China. How would you summarize the general situation of the community over there?
Same-sex marriage is not allowed in China mainland, but the acceptance of the LGBT among young people is relatively high. Nevertheless, I am not too optimistic about the prospects of this community in China. I am thinking about getting married in other countries or regions.
But as a Chinese person, I do hope that my country will eventually accept this group, at least I hope our parents will accept it and bless us.
Where in China do you live? What’s the situation in your city?
I live in Chengdu, Sichuan, which is an inclusive and diverse city. The proportion of LGBTQ+ here is much higher than in other cities. At the same time, I don't know much about rainbow families, which says a lot. As far as I know, it is not at all common in China that a family is made up of two (same-sex) lovers and their children.
Can you say a couple of words about lesbian* social life in Chengdu?
As far as I know, my city has its own lesbian social circle. However, I think the people there are not treating each other well, which is why I am not interested in being part of this. Consequently, I can't answer this question properly.
No problem. Let us end the interview with the usual question: Can you share a funny, memorable, or inspirational coming out stories of yours?
My first coming out was in high school. In fact, I had been very nervous and hesitant for a long time before I got ready to say it. But after I came out, everyone's attitude towards me remained the same, which was very touching. After that, I was not afraid to tell others about this, except my parents. Therefore, I would like to encourage everyone to be brave and do it, not being apologetic for your lives.
