10 Mar 2016

Watch: Documentary explores fake LGBT marriages in China

Inside the Chinese Closet depicts gays and lesbians are finding the middle ground between appeasing their parents and society while staying true to their sexuality.

Inside the Chinese Closet, by XXX director Sophia Luvara offers an in-depth and intriguing view of how China’s LGBT community adapts to a country that still holds very traditional values.

Luvara enters China’s the ‘fake-marriage’ market, where gay men and lesbians find suitable opposite sex partners for a sham marriage of social and economic convenience.

The get together appear similar to same-sex speed dating events, with attendees wearing numbers and asking questions of the opposite sex.

"But things happen behind closed doors and the state doesn't stop them as long as they don't go out and ask for human rights. From the point of view of the personal life, it's problematic because the family will demand that they have children.”says Luvara.

Luvara says the one-child policy in China has created a massive problem. "All these young people are only children and they are expected to produce grandchildren for their parents. To carry on the family name."

Inside the Chinese Closet is part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, March 13, 2016. Watch the trailer below below: