Fathers (Photo : Lovetitude Production/YouTube)
Has China become less homophobic? After authorities banned the depiction of gays on TV and ordered the axing of a gay-themed online drama “Addiction” in February, some changes took place after a few months.
In April, the Chinese media watchdog allowed the showing of the trailer of “Seek McCartney,” a gay movie, although the movie has yet to be shown in China. In August, a Mr. Gay China contest was held in the conservative country.
In September, “Shiru Bushiding,” a new Chinese gay drama, was launched online and got more than 100 million views online and more than 1 billion reads on Weibo. On Sunday, Nov. 27, “Fathers,” a Thai gay film was shown over Tianfutaiju, or Heavenly Thai Drama, What’s on Weibo reported.
It is a platform in China that promotes Thai pop culture through Weibo and other social media sites in China. Tianfutaiju has more than 1.8 million followers on Sina Weibo. Heavenly Thai Drama released with Chinese and English subtitles “Fathers” on Bilibil.com, its video platform in China.
The movie revolves around a same-sex male couple who struggles to build their family while grappling with legal challenges and society’s prejudice. The pair, Phoon and Yuke, adopted Butr, an orphan boy, according to Platphol Mingpornpichit, the movie’s director.
Because Butr has gay dads, he is often teased at school. “Fathers” – which runs for 95 minutes - premiered in China six months ago. Hours after “Fathers” was released, it was shared more than 690 times in social media, indicating the gay genre has gained more acceptance in China.
However, in Thailand, where “Fathers” was produced, it is not just gay movies that proliferate but also gay culture. The country is known as the gender reassignment capital of Asia where males and females who want to become a woman or a man could undergo surgery at a much lower cost than if the procedure is done in the U.S. or other western nation.
