Earlier this year Chinese police officers detained and questioned a total of 110 men who authorities believed to be engaging in sexual activities in Renmin Gongyuan People's Park. Outreach workers who were providing safe sex education as part of an HIV prevention program were also harassed, but no formal charges were filed.

Five months later, in August, the police attempted to forcibly eject 100 men from the park as well as outreach workers. The men protested this discriminatory treatment and ultimately convinced the police to leave the park.

The police justified this most recent attempt to arrest and exclude men from the park by claiming to be responding to allegations by park visitors that some men, believed to be gay, were "harassing" people and committing minor property crimes, though the targeted men themselves were also being harassed and robbed.

According to the IGHLRC (International Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission) the police are violating both Chinese and international law by arresting men suspected of being gay and the HIV outreach workers, and preventing them from accessing Renmin Gongyuan People's Park.

Under Chinese Law, Article 35 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China assures all citizens the right to enjoy freedom of speech, of assembly, of association, and of demonstration. Chinese law also protects the legal rights of people living with HIV, including the right to education.

The raids discriminate against individuals by targeting them on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation. They also threaten access to the limited space that the gay and bisexual men of the locality can access. Social spaces, such as public parks, are sites in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people build community and promote HIV education and prevention. These venues are particularly important since private space is less accessible to many Chinese gay men and lesbians, many of whom live with family and do not have the financial resources to obtain living spaces of their own.

For more information, including sample letter of protest and email addresses of Chinese officials visit:
www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/takeaction/globalactionalerts/991.html