Please give homosexuals an equal opportunity

Chinese sociologist Li Yinhe introduced in the book "Homosexual Subculture" that homosexuality refers to the sexual orientation and behavior targeting the same sex, regardless of men and women. Yes, the concept of "homosexuality" only appeared in the 19th century, and it is written as homosexuality in English.

At the beginning of the 20th century, research in the medical field believed that homosexual sexual orientation was mostly caused by genetic genes, and some were affected by sex hormones. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Tchaikovsky, etc. are all members of the gay community. However, due to religious pressure and traditional concepts, homosexuals have long been subject to social discrimination.

In 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental illness; in 1996, my country's National People's Congress voted to pass the new "Criminal Law", and "hooliganism" no longer included same-sex sexual behavior; in 2001, "Mental Disorders in China" Classification and Diagnostic Criteria" excludes homosexuality.

At present, 10 countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain have legalized same-sex marriage. Many countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have also legislated to recognize gay partnerships in civil unions. On the 24th of last month, New York became the sixth country in the United States to recognize same-sex marriage. state of legal status.

[Homosexuals are just like left-handers. Although they are not the majority of the population, they are still a part of the population. Except for the fact that the object of sexual orientation is the same sex, there is no difference from heterosexuals]

ELLE: Lu Liping retweeted Weibo, saying that homosexuals are degenerate, sinful, and need to be saved. How did you feel after seeing this?

Cheng Qingsong: I think Lu Liping is an excellent actor. She has played many different characters and roles. Many directors and actors she has worked with have made gay movies, and many makeup artists and stylists are gay. , should know how to respect people with different lifestyles and understand this group better than the general public, but it is very inappropriate to make such wrong remarks on a public platform. How many years ago was the Bible written? Not only homosexuality, but also remarriage and abortion are sinful. Today, the entire human environment has changed, and modern society should not be interpreted with paranoid religious teachings.

ELLE: Li Yinhe said that this view is "commonplace, ignorant and backward". It is inexcusable for a public figure to express such a view. There was also a lot of criticism online. What do you think?

Cheng Qingsong: She used teachings to attack homosexuals, which angered everyone. But name-calling is useless, I do not support it, and condemnation is not the ultimate goal. The important thing is to use this to start a discussion, let everyone understand the gay community, return to common sense, and eliminate prejudice and discrimination.

ELLE: Some people think that fighting back only makes you less confident. They think that homosexuals are no longer a vulnerable group. Is it necessary to have a heated discussion?

Cheng Qingsong: It is necessary and important, as Kang Yongge (Tsai Kangyong) said, "Many homosexuals are still suffering from rejection. No matter how futile such discussions are, it is still a glimmer of light." Online comments It may not bring about much change, but it can spread opinions and draw attention to the neglected rights of gays and lesbians. Teacher Li Yinhe submits a proposal for a same-sex marriage law every year at the two sessions. He does it even though he knows it is impossible. This is hard work. Until one day homosexuality becomes common and no one blames or praises it. That is progress.

ELLE: What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding about homosexuality in society?

Cheng Qingsong: One is the "frustration theory", which believes that we become homosexuals because we are hurt by failed heterosexual relationships, parents' divorce, etc. This is definitely not the case; and the "treatability theory", which believes that homosexuality is a disease. , needs treatment and can be "corrected". For example, now Sun Haiying and Lu Liping say "God can cure you". This is ridiculous. Medical research has said that homosexuality is determined by DNA; there are also perversions, although homosexuality has been removed from the dictionary of psychiatric medicine. Although it has been removed, many people still find it “disgusting” in their minds.

ELLE: In your opinion, what kind of group are homosexuals?

Cheng Qingsong: They are just like left-handers. Although they are not the majority of the crowd, they are still part of the crowd. They go to get off work and get off work, go to class and get out of class. Except for the fact that their sexual orientation is same-sex, others are heterosexual. There is no difference.

[According to statistics, the lesbian and gay population accounts for 3-4% of the population. There are 39 million to 52 million homosexuals in China. If calculated as an average of 3.7 people per family, the affected population is 1.4- 190 million]

ELLE: What do you think is the emotional difference between homosexuality and heterosexuality?

Cheng Qingsong: Heterosexual marriage will involve cars, houses, children, and more material and practical matters. Homosexual marriage rarely involves these. Instead, it pays more attention to emotional quality. I feel that the most important thing is for two people to be together. Although gay breakups are relatively easy because there is no bond of marriage, the level of pain is the same.

ELLE: In 2005, you published your love story on your blog and became the first person in the mainland entertainment industry to "come out" (publicly declare your sexual orientation) through the Internet. Why did you do this?

Cheng Qingsong: I was the first to make it public on the Internet. In real life, there are others who preceded me, including directors, photographers, painters, etc. I announced "coming out" to test the public's reaction, and I was mentally prepared in advance. If people were unfriendly or discriminated against me, I would be prepared to lose these friends. But in fact, no, people felt that I was very frank and honest, and they gave me a lot of encouragement. An A-list movie star who has not come out immediately texted me and said, "You are our pride and we support you." I was really touched.

ELLE: Many gay people leave messages online saying they envy you because you have the support of your parents.

Cheng Qingsong: I also went through a process, from my first love at the age of 19 in 1987 until 2004. My first love was broken up by both my parents. When my boyfriend's mother found out, she reported it to my workplace, and the entire small county knew about it. My parents didn't understand at the time and thought the two kids were just having fun. But later on, when I never found a girlfriend, they understood and just acquiesced. It wasn't until 2004 that they saw on TV the first mother to openly support her gay child. It was the editor Wu Youjian who had helped me before, and they were very shocked. My father told me that he would also support me like Teacher Wu. This sentence is enough for me for a lifetime, and I feel that the original barriers with my parents are gone.

ELLE: How many gay people are there in my country? How many people like you are publicly identified?

Cheng Qingsong: Teacher Li Yinhe mentioned in the proposal for the same-sex marriage law that according to statistics, the lesbian and gay population accounts for 3-4% of the population. Based on this calculation, there are 39 million to 52 million homosexuals in China. If we calculate that there are an average of 3.7 people per family, the affected population is 140-190 million, which is a large group.

Many have been disclosed among friends and relatives, but not many have been disclosed to the public. I have a friend who has two Weibo posts, one for posting serious content in public, and one for communicating with gay friends in private. Every time he posts about this and that, he splits into two people. There are many like him.

Although not every gay person will marry with the same-sex marriage law, it is an equal right, and fighting for this right is also a force that promotes social progress.

ELLE: What is the most difficult situation for the gay community right now?

Cheng Qingsong: Marriage is not legal and there is no sense of security in relationships.

ELLE: Why is the same-sex marriage law important?

Chen Qingsong: Although not everyone will get married if there is a same-sex marriage law, just like not everyone will get married if there is a marriage law, it is an equal right. After the same-sex marriage law was passed in the UK, gays and lesbians can get married when they are 18 years old, but the age limit for heterosexuals is 16, which is still different and there is still discrimination, so they continue to fight for their rights in these two years.

ELLE: Even if the same-sex marriage law is passed, it does not mean that discrimination will be eliminated.

Cheng Qingsong: Yes, but with this, heterosexuals will know, "Oh, gays can also get married", and discrimination will be eliminated faster. Fighting for equal rights for gays is also a force for social progress.

ELLE: You once said that invisible violence and discrimination are not uncommon in our society. Although some people say to you "I am not against homosexuality," they are still discriminatory in their hearts. What is deep-rooted discrimination?

Cheng Qingsong: Discrimination in the bones is the way of thinking caused by the innate education, just like the gender education we receive. In ancient times, it was said that women should obey the three obediences and four virtues, and now it is said that women should wash and cook. These come from education. , forming a culture is terrible. Homosexuality is precisely against male chauvinism: I am a man, I don’t do what men do, I choose another orientation, which in itself is the greatest deconstruction of male-dominated society. Foucault specifically stated that if a civilization cannot accept homosexuality, it is not a civilized society.

ELLE: How can this kind of discrimination be eliminated?

Cheng Qingsong: It takes time, education, and common sense. I realized that I liked boys when I was fourteen or fifteen years old. I was very scared at first because the education I received since childhood was all about heterosexuality. Suddenly one day I realized that I just don’t like girls. What should I do? Later, I accidentally opened "A Dream of Red Mansions" and saw the description of homosexuality in it, and then I began to understand that I was not alone. Nowadays, Western primary and secondary schools already have education about homosexuality, and Taiwan also has it. Physiology books will write about what homosexuality is like, but our country does not yet.

ELLE: As a gay, what kind of environment do you hope to live in?

Cheng Qingsong: Legalization. For example, the film regulations prohibit the filming of gay-themed movies, and gay films such as "Lan Yu" and "Spring Breeze Night" cannot be released to the public. The blood donation regulations prohibit homosexuals from donating blood, and the marriage law also excludes homosexuality. I want to get married right now (laughs), put on a suit, shirt and tie, wow, I’m so happy! Although marriage may not be so beautiful, everyone still longs for it in general.