China's first video podcast by gay men for gay men debuts

I get the coolest stuff from this MSM-Asia listserv I belong to, such as the following... Need to brush up on the Chinese though, if you decide to check out the site or the podcast. I kinda like to pretend myself...
--Jim

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China's first video podcast by gay men for gay men debuts

11 April 2007 BEIJING.

Two young Chinese gay men are launching the country's first independent video podcast dedicated to discussing issues that impact their own lives and those of other gay Chinese. "Tongzhi yi fanren" (roughly translated as "queer as folk") is a weekly online television show to be seen on major Chinese Websites.

In addition to studio conversations with guests, the show will feature on-location segments that include special interviews and street surveys.

"As Chinese society becomes diverse and tolerant, we feel there is a severe shortage of visual content about the increasingly open gay community here," said Xiaogang, co-creator and co-host of the show. "We want to change that through our efforts by producing a unique podcast for fellow gay Chinese and the general public."

Xiaogang, a drama teacher, has assembled a like-minded small group that includes co-host Steven, a former television journalist. The passionate volunteers are proud of their ability to write, film and edit a professionally looking half-hour talk show with extremely limited resources and no commercial backing. "It's part entertainment and part an exploration of the dynamic characteristics of China's gay culture," explained Steven, also a co- creator of the show. "The result is a hip, timely and fun program that does not spend time justifying homosexuality, instead choosing to discuss and appreciate its intricacies in China."

The show debuts at 11 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 on the podcast section of its blog at blog.sina.com.cn/qafbeijing and will be simultaneously uploaded to other major Chinese video Websites such as tudou.com and youku.com.

The guest for the first show is Helen Feng, a rock musician and radio/television personality in Beijing. She and the two hosts held lively exchanges on the topic of gay-straight relationships, including their personal experiences in deploying "gaydar." "As a lifelong faghag, I truly enjoyed being part of this new and exciting program," joked Helen after the taping.

The first show also features street interviews with a diverse group of ordinary Beijing residents about their impressions on gays, with revealing and surprising answers. The guest for the second show will be Zhang Beichuan, a prominent medical professor who has devoted his career to various gay causes ranging from fighting HIV/AIDS to youth counseling and anti- discrimination legislation. For more information, please e-mail us at qafbeijingshow@.... You can also contact Xiaogang at (+86) 138-1113-7034 or Steven at (+86) 139-1069-4747.