A working list of LGBTQ information and resources for China, Japan (travel, living), Taiwan, and Hong Kong from a gay / lesbian / bisexual Chinese Canadian.

If you have any tips, information, and directories, please send them over!

Preference is for sites with English, or are relatively easy to navigate even if not. Some great non-English resources are included to get people started.

My Posts:

LGBTQ / Pride Events

Some places wait once a year for that awesome crowd at Pride in June or August, but it’s about time to come join the parties here in Asia. Pride is relatively new to Asia compared to the Stonewall Days, but they’re not too shabby for size.

Best of all, the Asian parties are spread throughout the year. Groups (mostly the guys) will also travel to annual events that aren’t explicitly LGBTQ just to have a good time too!

All the Gaycation options:

Places to Go / Groups:

Asian governments may seem pretty cold to same-sex issues, but in general, they also have a hands-off policy. This means that many places have a decent or even outright vibrant underground scene. Below are some tips:

Queer Culture:

For a seemingly conservative place, East Asia has a lot of queer content. Much of it is in mainstream media such as movies with sex-changing kungfu heroes, tabloids reporting on billionaire’s gay daughters, and Mainland Chinese media creating bromances for straight actors.

In Japan, Yaoi (boy’s love) and yuri (girl’s love) are major genres in Japanese pop culture often written and consumed by straight people.

Check the media content from:

LGBTQ Media & Event Sites:

Japan:

Taiwan:

China:

Search Douban 豆瓣, Sina 微博 for groups

Join Weixin 微信 public channels and groups

Hong Kong:

GDot TV (Media Channel based in Hong Kong) – has English and international content

my post on LGBTQ Hong Kong for a full list

The Lingo and Labels:

Taku and Rei have an excellent Glossary of Japanese Gay terms.

Chinese Pinyin English 同志 Tóng zhì homosexual 同性戀 tóng xìng liàn same sex love 同性愛 Dōseiai same-sex love (Japanese) 同性 tóng xìng same sex 誇性別 kuā xìng bié Transgender 拉拉 lā lā lesbian 1 号 yī hào top 0.5 号 líng diǎn wu hào versatile 0 号 líng hào bottom T Tomboy lesbian P Wife / princess (femme) lesbian member member* (Hong Kong) G吧 g BAR gay bar 同性浴室 tóng xìng yù shì same-sex bathhouse 出柜 chū guì out of the closet 弯男 wān nán gay 卖的 mài de male escort 熊 xióng bears 狒狒 fèi fèi people who like bears 猴子 hóu zi Twink (monkey) 同妻 tóng qi Gay husband

Adapted from Wikipedia Article “Homosexuality in China“.

Gay and Lesbian Dating Apps:

Lesbian Dating: Rela Butterfly Android / iPhone Lesdo (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lesdo.sns.playstore&hl=en) << Was shut down in China in 2017.

Gay Men Dating: Hornet Android / iPhone Grindr Android / iPhone Blued Android / iPhone

Meetup.com for events

If you have any tips to share, please send them over!

If you are visiting Hong Kong, check out my post on LGBTQ Hong Kong.