9-8-2023 (BEIJING) In a concerning display of increasing restrictions on LGBTQ expression in China, concert-goers in Beijing claim they were prevented from displaying rainbow imagery during a performance by Taiwanese singer Chang Hui-mei, popularly known as A-Mei. Fans attending the concert at Beijing’s Cadillac Arena reported being barred from wearing shirts adorned with rainbows, as shared by participants on social media platforms.
According to accounts from attendees, security guards asked individuals to either turn their rainbow-adorned shirts inside out or change into black clothing provided by the guards. In one instance, a fan was stopped by security due to their shirt changing colors in reflective lighting. Bloomberg News has reached out to these individuals for further comment, while A-Mei’s management, the Chinese concert organizer, and the Cadillac Arena have not responded to requests for clarification.
The Beijing Cultural and Tourism Bureau, responsible for approving the weekend shows, stated that their role was limited to vetting the eligibility of concert organizers. The incidents at the A-Mei concert in Beijing reflect the mounting pressure faced by LGBTQ community members and advocates as China promotes conservative and traditional gender and sexual identity values under President Xi Jinping’s leadership. In 2021, numerous LGBTQ group accounts on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform, were shut down, and a prominent LGBTQ center closed its doors after 15 years.
The cancellation or postponement of several events related to Pride celebrations in June further underscored the crackdown on LGBTQ-related entertainment. Rainbow colors are widely associated with the LGBTQ pride flag, and A-Mei, known for her outspoken advocacy, served as the first ambassador for Taiwan Pride in 2007. She has consistently supported same-sex marriage and organized concerts to rally support for marriage equality.
However, at another A-Mei concert attended by a 30-year-old fan identified as Tian, no rainbow imagery was observed in the crowd, nor were there reports of guards confiscating such gear. Tian attributed this to heightened awareness following the previous day’s incident and the subsequent social media posts about the security measures. Notably, the concert lineup did not include A-Mei’s song “Rainbow,” which features queer themes, and the song “Bad Boy” no longer incorporated rainbow imagery in its background video.
Tian expressed resignation regarding the treatment of the LGBTQ community in China but emphasized that barring rainbow colors at a concert went too far. Some in China perceive being gay, bisexual, or transgender as an imported concept from the West, fueled in part by the visibility of gay rights campaigns by foreign embassies in Beijing, which often feature Pride colors.
Tsinghua University, one of China’s prestigious colleges and President Xi’s alma mater, reprimanded two students last year for distributing LGBTQ rainbow flags on campus. The recent incident at the A-Mei concert highlights the growing scrutiny faced by the LGBTQ community in China, prompting questions about the extent of these restrictions.
