Search

Through a meta-literature review, this paper examines the changing contours of Chinese sociology of homosexuality in contemporary China. It unfolds the different theoretical orientations and methodologies that construct the modern male homosexual subject under major socio-economic and political changes. Chinese sociology of homosexuality started in the reform era and has been dominated by Western knowledge production and the political ideology of the communist party-state. Fused with the bio-medical model and the state's modernization project in the 1980s-1990s, the sociological study adopted a functionalist and positivistic approach with survey-based methodology in the main which focused on the etiology of homosexuality. A new transnational knowledge production of sociology of homosexuality has formed since the 2000s which has shifted towards a constructivist/ post-structuralist approach and reflexive qualitative methodology. The new sociological study examines the rise of male (as well as female) homosexual identity in China, questions the hetero/homosexual binary and discusses how an individual makes sense of homosexual identity to form same-sex intimate relationships. By tracing the epistemology of homosexuality in contemporary China, this paper rethinks the dominance of the Western construction and the role of the state in shaping the knowledge of homosexuality and proposes alternative spaces for theorizing Chinese sexual identities, desires and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents commentary by several authors on the essay "Growing Up Gay in China," by Rodge Q. Fann and the article "Difficulties Japanese Gay Youth Encounter," by Akihiko Komiya. Chinese and Japanese literature featuring homosexual themes; Homosexuality among the social history of both countries; Opinion of the articles by LGBT Americans reflecting on gays in a foreign country; Homophobia in foreign countries; Gay and lesbian life in Zimbabwe.

The article looks at the family and social lives of foreign scientists in Hong Kong, China and Singapore. The experiences of these scientists are explored in areas such as the education of their children, evolving attitudes in East Asia towards homosexuality, and opportunities for community involvement. The article presents comments from foreign-born scientists including quantum information researcher Stephanie Wehner, biologist Paul Matsudaira, and seismologist Kerry Sieh.

The article discusses the rise in HIV/AIDS infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Asia and their need for better access to health services. The problems associated with a knowledge gap due to the lack of surveillance and measure of the number of MSM in the region are discussed. The problems that arise from the persistence of colonial anti-sodomy laws in many countries in Asia and subsequent health care discrimination are assessed.