CREATING CHANGE FOR LGBT PEOPLE IN CHINA: ¨Xiangqi, the founder of Shanghai Nvai is setting up the city's only lesbian group for local Chinese, faux marriages where gay men and lesbian women marry...¨

Xiangqi, founder of Shanghai lesbian group

¨Given what a struggle it is to find an ‘out’ lesbian community in any part of the world, we really hit the jackpot in Shanghai when we met the ladies of Shanghai Nvai, Shanghai’s only lesbian group for local Chinese. Shanghai Nvai brings together sophisticated, engaging, and progressive women for salon discussions and social events.

The founder of Shanghai Nvai is Supergay Xiangqi (Shiang-chi), a soft-spoken woman with an unstoppable voice. Xiangqi wants her group to not only provide a community for lesbians, but to further share the lesbian culture with society at large. Xiangqi invited Lisa and I to come talk about our Out & Around journey at their meeting, and our discussion with this educated and inquisitive group was definitely one of the highlights of this year’s trip.

We also had a chance to sit down with Xiangqi for an interview at her new apartment, which she shares with her girlfriend and their dog. Due to Shanghai’s rapid growth, the city is demolishing old buildings to make room for new ones, and Shanghai Nvai’s orginal meeting space was one of the victims. With its large living area, Xiangqi plans to use their apartment as the group’s new space.

We talk to Xiangqi about her work with Shanghai Nvai and lesbian life in China…¨ read the entire interview, HERE

· Thanks to Fridae, sidebar
· Thanks to Jennifer Chang and Lisa Dazols