The wait is almost over: a three week extravaganza of LGBTQ movie nights, exhibitions, talent shows and parties up the kazoo are just upon us, and it starts with a big opening blow out at Lounge 18 this Saturday. Be there or be absolutely unfabulous. more ›

• An extremely rare Chinese map of the entire world, which was made in 1602, is now on display at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. It's pretty awesome. [Guardian]
• In the latest sign of new openness about homosexuality here, state media all over China (not just internet media) covered Zeng Ge and Xiao Pan's gay wedding on their front pages. [AFP]
• Kevin Spacey is about to become the biggest Hollywood actor to star in a 100% Chinese movie. Luckily, it seems like he won't have to learn a lot of Chinese to do it. [Hollywood Reporter]

One of the first recorded gay marriage ceremonies in China happened last week. 47-year-old Zeng Ge and 27-year-old Xiao Pan tied the knot in a small bar in Chengdu on January 3rd. China currently doesn't recognize homosexual unions. more ›

Shanghaiist editor-at-large and expert on all things gay, Kenneth Tan, recently helped CNNGo compile a list of essential terms for anyone trying to break into Shanghai's LGBT scene. We already knew about 同志(tongzhi) and 拉拉(lala), the respective names for Chinese gays and lesbians, but we didn't realize there was also a phrase for "white fever" (吃土豆的) and that Chinese gays come out of the cupboard (出柜) rather than the closet. Teach us more! more ›

• Chinese Woman Accused of Murdering Official Freed on Bail [WSJ] "A female hotel employee whose arrest on murder charges sparked a wave of national sympathy in China after her lawyers said she was fighting off a rape attack has been released on bail. Deng Yujiao, 21, was arrested after she stabbed two local government officials with a fruit knife on May 10 in the Xiongfeng Hotel in central Hubei province, killing one of them. Ms Deng's lawyers said she acted in self defense when the men tried to rape her after she refused to have sex with them for money. The case has sparked public anguish over the issue of violence towards woman."
• China ties make Macau good bet to beat Vegas [Reuters] "The world economy may be slumping, but don't tell that to Macau -- the former Portuguese colony which is set to trump Las Vegas heading out of the worst global downturn since the Great Depression. In the smoke-filled gambling halls of Macau's MGM Mirage casino, hundreds of Chinese gamblers were crammed around tables flipping cards, playing roulette and rolling dice on a recent day, seemingly unaffected by the slowdown."
• Climate change a 'game changer' in US-China relations: Pelosi [AFP] "US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that the fight against climate change was a "game changer" in China-US relations, as she visited Beijing on a trip focused on energy. Pelosi, a tough critic of China's human rights record and a vocal advocate of environmental protection, is leading a delegation from the US Congress to China on a working visit devoted to energy and climate change."

What’s every gay woman and man talking about in China these days? Shanghai Pride, of course. more ›