For China’s Gay Community, The Show Doesn’t Go On

At the Mr. Gay China contest rehearsal, participants rehearsed for a fashion show and prepared to answer questions by a panel of judges. The plan was to send the winner to represent China at the worldwide Mr. Gay contest in Norway in mid-February.

Niu Niu said pageant organizers wanted to present an appealing and wholesome image of China’s “comrades,” as homosexuals are known in Chinese slang. “Healthy, fashionable and with a sunny and positive attitude,” Niu Niu said.

Despite his optimism, he said many of the would-be contestants had not yet gone public with their sexual orientation.

At the rehearsal, before the pageant was shut down, a 29-year-old business consultant with a dragon tattooed on his forearm asked that he be identified only by his first name — Justin.

“I don’t want my parents to know about this event,” he said with a laugh. “If I don’t win this competition and they see me, I’ll just deny it was me. If I win, then I’ll accept it and treat it as an opportunity to tell my parents the truth.”