The weekly, hour-long Internet TV show "Tongxing Xianglian," or "Connecting Homosexuals," is being produced and will debut on Phoenixtv.com which is operated by Hong Kong-listed broadcaster Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings.
The 12 episodes will feature openly gay presenters including AIDS activist, Didier Zheng, discussing issues related to gay people - such as coming out and gay marriage. The show is expected to be accessible to 130 million people through large Chinese web portals Sina.com, Mop.com, PPLive and Tencent. Producers of the programme will also provide a forum for gay viewers to communicate with each other.
While major Chinese cities are becoming more open to gay people coming out, many are still remain under heavy pressure within traditional families. Until 2001, homosexuality was listed as a mental illness.
During Mao Zedong's era, homosexuals were persecuted and prison terms and death sentences meted out.
"We hope that after this show airs, homosexuality will no longer be an issue, that society will be more enlightened about it, more understanding and more tolerant." Says the show's producer Gang Gang.
The series can be seen at itv.phoenixtv.com.
Watch this space for an upcoming interview with Didier Zheng.