China, January 15: Beijeng police put an end to China’s first ever gay beauty pageant today, organisers said.
Eight Chinese men planned to strut their stuff in front of hundreds of people tonight, hoping to display a sign of openness about homosexuality in a nation where it remains largely taboo.
The contestants were to take part in the Mr Gay China competition, which organisers said would include an underwear show, in a bid to represent the the country at the Worldwide Mr Gay pageant in Norway in February.
According to Chinese experts cited in press reports, there are an estimated 30 million homosexuals in China, two-thirds of them men.
Homosexuality was a crime in China until 1997, and it was officially considered a mental illness until 2001.
Since then, however, an increasing number of gay and lesbian public events have taken place.
—Agencies