Winners of the country's first award for homosexuality studies
were announced in Shanghai yesterday, with eight final prize
winners presenting papers on the topic.
And the ability to hold such a competition in China was in
itself a sign of progress, said To Chung, chairman of contest
organizer Chi Heng Foundation, a Hong Kong-based non-governmental
organization.
"Papers have taken on a new look at perspectives and methods,
which demonstrates that attention and research on homosexuality
have reached a new height," To said.
The eight prize-winning papers explored the existence of
homosexuality in China from different perspectives of sociology,
mass communications, film reviews, law and other disciplines.
Most of the eight prize winners are faculty and postgraduate
students at domestic universities, the organizer said.
Winners were given a cash prize of up to 2,000 yuan
(US$264).
"Homosexuality studies are a very meaningful but young
battlefield which enable us to explore a more diversified society,"
said Zhou Dan, a local lawyer and one of the members of the jury.
"The award helped the majority of people to understand gays and
lesbians better and contribute to a more tolerant social
environment," he added.
Yang Tianhua, a postgraduate student at Beijing's Communication
University of China, won a prize with his paper "The medium for
constructing the image of the homosexual community" - a research
report on homosexual topics found in traditional media on the
Chinese mainland.
Wei Wei, a sociology teacher at Shanghai University who won a
prize, said he wished to share common research interests with other
scholars by taking part in the award.
Paper topics could include homosexual health, rights and
interests, networks, community development and other related
content.
By April 1, more than 70 papers had been submitted before they
were passed on for evaluation by a panel headed by celebrated
Taiwan writer Pai Hsiun-yung.
The search for contestants was launched in September last
year.
To said he planned to make the award an annual event. The Chi
Heng Foundation is also launching an award for homosexuality
coverage among the mainland media to promote public understanding
of the topic.
(Shanghai Daily September 10, 2007)