An estimated 50 million to 70 million people in China identify themselves as LGBT. (Photo : REUTERS)
Many gay people in China are still considered sick and subjected to "cures" and "treatments," according to an investigation by Beijing News.
In a narrow street near Caishikou in Beijing, investigative reporters found a man surnamed Zhong who ran a clinic from out of a residential house, with the assumption that homosexuality is the result of demonic possession.
Zhong's "patient," surnamed Chen, was being treated with burning incense and chanted spells, as well as a talisman that would "protect him from the devils."
Even before coming to Zhong, Chen had approached a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) institution, where a "Doctor Wang" claimed his sexual orientation disorder was caused by clogged meridians. Chen paid 530 yuan (around $83) for three tests, namely blood pressure, meridians and psychological status.
"Doctor Wang" said a complete treatment would cost around 10,000 yuan, citing several cured cases.
Wang Linming, head of Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital's acupuncture department, said that he had never heard of TCM treating homosexuality, and he did not believe in its effect.
Chen is not the only case of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals who have tried to correct their sexual orientation.
According to Beijing LGBT Center, one-tenth of 1,600 surveyed LGBT individuals have reported experiences of receiving "treatment" under family pressure. None of them have reported changing their sexual orientation.
Dr. Liu Chaoying of Beijing Normal University said that the LGBT group needs to be more respected by society.
"Psychiatric help should be based on the needs of the LGBT group, and no one should abuse them or try to change their orientation," Liu said.
China removed homosexuality from the national criteria of mental disorders in 2000. In Dec. 2014, a Beijing court agreed with a man who sued a homosexual clinic for misleading propaganda, citing that homosexuality is not a mental disease.
