A fervor has erupted on Chinese social media after a video surfaced of security guards allegedly assaulting two women who were showing support for the LGBTQ community near Beijing’s 798 Art District earlier this week.
Bill Birtles, China correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) tweeted a link to the footage in which a crowd can be seen tussling before a guard visibly strikes a woman to the ground. “Ugly scenes up at #Beijing’s 798 art district,” he wrote, adding, “Supporters say the woman knocked down … was part of an #LGBTQ advocacy event.” You can see that clip here (VPN required): twitter.com/billbirtles/status/995662653296033792.
The Global Times reported that the guards “roughed up” two women because they were wearing rainbow badges that were being handed out by volunteers ahead of International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) slated for May 17. Rainbows are of course widely seen as an LGBTQ-friendly symbol. The story went on to say, “Security staff at the north gate of the art zone refused to let the two women enter because they were wearing the rainbow badge, which were given to them by a man near the north gate who only agreed to be identified by his online name piaoquanjun.” That volunteer went on to say, ”I planned to give out 5,000 rainbow badges in 798 but was stopped by the security staff. Trying to stop me from handing out badges and stopping others who wore them from entering the zone is absurd.”
The article then quotes other sources who blamed the women for instigating the incident, and an employee at the Beijing Administrative Committee of 798 Art Zone who said the zone "has a right to stop illegal activity," admitting that he had essentially taken the law into his own hands by saying, "Wearing a rainbow badge is illegal to me, and they, the homosexuals, have distorted sexual orientation, it is terrifying."
Wearing a rainbow badge is illegal to me, and they, the homosexuals, have distorted sexual orientation, it is terrifying.
Denise Long, a student who also works at the media department for the Beijing LGBT Center, tells the Beijinger that she has spoken to one of the alleged victims, who "asked us not to disclose further details because she is in talks with those who attacked her. But she says she appreciates those who are helping and supporting her.” The Beijinger was not able to reach either of the alleged victims or their attackers before publication.
The support has indeed been widespread, with numerous Chinese netizens decrying the attack. Such posts have left Long feeling “optimistic,” though she is quick to elaborate on how “in fact, discrimination and misunderstanding still exist [and] tolerance needs to be improved. The 798 incident is a good case for many ordinary people to speak out for the community, including many allies.”
...discrimination and misunderstanding still exist [and] tolerance needs to be improved. The 798 incident is a good case for many ordinary people to speak out for the community, including many allies.
Ripley Wang, advocacy and policy manager at the NGO Beijing Gender (which puts on socially conscious events and campaigns like Dining For Diversity) has also been in touch with both alleged victims and their lawyers. Wang says, “It was wrongful for the security guards to start the conflict, and I don’t think they have the right to stop anyone from entering a public place. There was no legal stance for them to do that, let alone for them to be violent.”
Lü Pin, a Chinese feminist activist, column writer, and former visiting scholar at Columbia University, was highly vocal about the video on Twitter, writing on that platform, “The suppression has evoked the angry determination of LGBT+ groups to a certain level. However, the intensification of controversy implies a more dangerous and challenging situation. It is worrying for me if LGBT issues lose its grey area.”
Lü went on to tell the Beijinger that the incident “made me indignant and angry.” She adds, “Obviously, the red line of diverse expression is moving forward now, and people are fighting to resist this tendency. I am not so optimistic, but I agree we have no other choice other than to expect the awakening of the people.”
The red line of diverse expression is moving forward now, and people are fighting to resist this tendency.
Lü has since Tweeted, "Latest news: the security company of 798 has apologized to two girls who were beaten by the security personnel on May 13 with promise that they will dismiss three attackers. Those two girls accepted the result because they have no more energy to expend."
The Beijinger was unable to reach the 798 organizing committee or other local authorities before press time. A source who works extensively in the 798 arts scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says the committee “obviously want to distance themselves from the event” before quickly adding, “But it's obvious to most that, up to this point, the institutions located in 798 have been big supporters of domestic and international LGBTQ voices. The 798 organizing committee plays a very small role in deciding what artists are displayed as far as I understand. And it runs counter to their interests to limit which viewers are allowed entry.”
Photos: Twitter.com
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