Eye on Gay Shanghai: What you need to know about Shanghai Pride
What’s every gay woman and man talking about in China these days? Shanghai Pride, of course.
After months of volunteers’ blood, sweat and tears, Shanghai Pride 2009, the 1st Pride celebration in mainland China, is a mere 3 weeks away. The event has grown in size since we last reported and will now be a week long extravaganza running from June 7th-14th, 2009. Organized by Shanghai LGBT, a non-profit group, the event will raise money for Chi Heng Foundation’s China AIDS Orphan Project through a raffle.
With seven days of Pride, there are a myriad of events and the organizers hope to appease everyone.
- For the intellectuals, there is a panel discussion given by Fudan and East China Normal University professors, Open Mic Literary Hour, and three film screenings.
- Foodies will be pleased with the opening dinner and wine tasting event.
- The artsy folk will have four gay venues decked out with exhibitions.
- The jocks can compete in a swimming and badminton competition.
- The consummate partiers will love the 100 RMB open bar on Thursday and the Pride Day event on June 13 at Cotton’s and Glamour Bar.
Shanghai Pride 2009 Schedule
Opening Day
Sunday- June 7
Art Show
Paintings, sculptures, and photography exhibition by local LGBT artists
Free to public
Running all week June 7 - 14
Cloud 9, Shanghai Studio, Eddy's, Transit Lounge
Film Screening
Queer China, 'Comrade China' by Cui Zi'en 2008
A documentary about gender and sexual orientation reforms in the past 20 years in China which features interviews with 30 of the most prominent figures in the Chinese LGBT community.
Free to Public
Vargas Grill - 5pm
Opening Night Dinner
Join us for a celebratory opening meal: eat, drink and be gay and gay-friendly.
Please RSVP to Vargas Grill - 64370136
RMB150 per person
Vargas Grill - 7pm
Monday- June 8
Panel Discussion
Topic: Blossom in the Little Garden: Evolution of Gay Shanghai
Panelists: Fudan University Professor Gao, East China Normal University
Professor Wei Wei
Free to Public
Kathleen's 5 - 7:30pm
Tuesday- June 9
Open Mic Literary Hour
Share literary selections from your favorite authors, or musings of your own.
Free to Public
Frangipani - 8pm
Wednesday- June 10
Film Screening
Film by Zhu Ziya
Zhu Yiye was born in China in the 1980s. She is an independent film director
with a playful attitude.
Free to Public
Kathleen's 5 - 8pm
Thursday- June 11
Wine Tasting
Mixed selection of white and red imported wines
RMB150 all you can drink
A Tale of 4 Cities - 7pm
Shanghai Studio Open Bar
Start the weekend off the gay way
RMB 100 all you can drink
Shanghai Studio - 10pm
Friday- June 12
Film Screening
Welcome to Destination Shanghai by Andrew Cheng 2003
An erotic-drama featuring Shanghai's gay and heterosexual sex trade workers through interconnected vignettes.
Free to Public
Kathleen's 5 - 8pm
The Laramie Project
A theatrical production about a small town's reaction to one of America's most talked about hate crimes.
RMB100 per person with 10% of profits donated to ChiHeng Foundation
Barefoot Studios - 8pm
Saturday- June 13
Day Time Events @ Cotton's on Xinhua Lu- 2pm to 10pm
Free to public
All day BBQ RMB100 and drinks from RMB20
2pm Hot Body Competition
3pm LGBT Choir and Capoeira Performances
4pm Chinese Opera and Drag Performance by Lai Lai
5pm Gay Bar Competition
6pm Games Galore
7pm Fashion Show
8pm Drag Show (including Gwen from Tempe and Coco Licious)
9pm Gay Weddings
10pm Free Buses to Afterparty @ Glamour Bar
Night Time Events
ShanghaiPRIDE Afterparty
Dance floor with special DJ Leather Locklear
Free to public
Glamour Bar - 10pm
Sunday- June 14
Field Day @ Xuhui Gym and Swimming Pool
4pm Swim Competition
6pm Badminton Competition
There is still time if your company or you would like to sponsor any of the events or donate a prize for the raffle. Please email shanghaipride(at)gmail.com.
(Full-disclosure: Shanghai Fag Hag bleed, sweated, and cried -well, almost- to help put this event together.)
Photo by Amy

