anyMeta 4.6.58 - Atom module 0.3.22017-05-11T16:54:14+02:00http://www.couscousglobal.com/feed/atom/47/en?q_object=136Editors bloghttp://www.couscousglobal.com/id/9812008-09-09T12:32:52+02:00Being Gay in BJ<p>Beijng 18-8-2008<br/>
Maartje talks to the BJ Homosexual community on The Boat.<br/>
Thank you all visitors of the boat, and thank you Ilsa and Michael for a beautiful conversation on Third Culture/ Global Nomad kids.....we should also make a movie about that......I'll be back....</p><p>The Boat is floating in the embassy neighboorhood.<br/>
Classic Chinese views(waterlilys, ponds, bikes, fisherman) and just new skyscrapers are making a new image in my head of Beijing now.</p>
<p>The Boat is a meetingpoint og gay and lesbian Beijing but there are lots of gay bars, disco's and dark rooms in BJ. It is very funny that while shooting on deck ,all the young boys whom are standing in front of the embassys are going home for the day and so they march and yell and sing in a military way all around is." we are goiing home, we are the hope for the future, we are strong" someone translates their singshouting....<br/>
Although China always strikes me as highly sensative to authority, it becomes clear to me this night that they do not have an upper MORAL authority, because they have no (official)religion. There are no rabbi's, priests, mullah's, ayatollah's, or popes who tell people how to behave morally, nobody says what is good or wrong for an individual.<br/>
The only authorities to feel a responsability to are the parents, grandparents and their genes.<br/>
And so this is what I learned his night.<br/>
Chinese are very tolerant towards gays, although it is even much more easier for the young generation now than it used to be for the generation who is now 40+. China has a great history in homosexuality, even lots of stories about gay emperors, and it is well documented, as ithe Arab world has had in its poetry.</p>
<p>The boys I talk are called Seyan and Billy(english name) and they also perform in a film I see later that night about transgender people in China and the thousends of operations that are performed every year in BJ.<br/>
Seyan wants to put on some make up before we do the interview, and so Billy helps him put it on as you can see in the pics below. Both Billy and Seyan are totally open about being gay and all their friends know it but they haven't told their parents yet. The problem is not so much that they will be rejected, but hey do not want to hurt their parents in not giving them a grandchild.<br/>
We also talk to Xiou Gang who runs an on line dating and talkshow for gay, transgender, bi community. <br/>
Xiou is 46 years but although everybody knows he is gay, and all of his work is with gay people he never found the courage to tell his parents. He believes that if it would be allowed for gay couples to adopt a child, and lots of couples tried after the earthquake last month, there would not be a problem anymore.</p>
<p>To the Dutch guys of Jong and Out I have to say from them:<br/>
" We, the Chinese gays, have heard about your canalboat in the Gay canal Parade in Amsterdam. We think it is wonderful that you were there and your parents were in a boat behind you. That is also why it is nice to do this filmshoot on a boat, although it is in China."</p>maartje nevejanhttp://www.couscousglobal.com/id/176ARTICLEnewshttp://www.couscousglobal.com/id/4822008-09-01T15:03:01+02:00gay parade amsterdam<p>2-4-4</p>
<p>Erik and I are going to the Gay Canal Parade in old Amsterdam.<br/>
The first boat is packed with gay boys and girls under 18, and their parents are in the second boat.<br/>
I see a banner with” Proud parents say, its OK my child is gay”. <br/>
House music and old chansons are pumping the energy levels of everyone.<br/>
For one day Amsterdam is again the city of tolerance. We did not see that a lot the last few years. Istanbul is now Gay-capital of the world.<br/>
On the streets and bridges, a crowd of half a million is cheering and applauding them.<br/>
Including a handful of ministers in our present government, whom are drinking pink champagne in their own boat, floret by the International press.<br/>
“Unbelieveable” American tourists say if they see that our government is celebrating with our gays.<br/>
We will be making a film and debate with the young kids from “Jong and Out” later this month....so keep watching;)</p>maartje nevejanhttp://www.couscousglobal.com/id/176ARTICLEnews