''They (gay men) refused to show up at the opening for fear of media exposure and potential discrimination.''
Zhang Jianbo, founder of a city-sponsored gay bar in the Dali, China, which was supposed to be a meeting place for gay men, and once inside, they would receive access to HIV/AIDS education and outreach. Quite literally, they were trying to get them out of the woods, and into a healthier environment. But a world of media attention apparently was too much for the intended participants. It's reported that some citizens complained it was a waste of taxpayers' dollars, too. This article mentions that gay bars exist in other cities but don't draw media attention to themselves, and are not government funded. (China Daily)
''It seems the Dali government was not well-prepared for the ethical debate that might arise from the government investment in the gay bar. However, if the government had adopted a relaxed approach, it might have averted the moral risks.''
An editoriral from China Daily about a gay bar that had been sponsored the Chinese city Dali. (China Daily)
