Thank You Sir Ian McKellen!
Sir Ian McKellen Weaves Magic for LGBTQ groups in Shanghai
There was a touch of gay magic in the air on Sunday night, when two time Academy Award nominee Sir Ian McKellen met with LGBTQ groups in Shanghai. McKellen is a well-known advocate of LGBTQ rights and has recently led a call for a stronger international community. The event was co-hosted by the British Council, the British Consulate-General in Shanghai, and ShanghaiPRIDE. Guests included leaders from Aibai, Nvai, PFLAG China, and student group Diversity UNNC.
The evening opened with Charlene Liu, co-founder of ShanghaiPRIDE, who spoke about the incidences which brought about what is now China’s longest running pride season, and the opportunities born out of that incidence (including meeting her wife). PFLAG’s Ashan spoke of similar beginnings for his own activism, when as a young man he realized he had no choice but to stand proud and be true to himself, a speech which brought McKellen close to tears.
McKellen spoke vividly on his personal experiences as an activist. There are times to listen, and there are times to fight, with reference to the tragedy in Orlando that had occurred just hours before. He had become an activist in protest of Section 28, a law banning positive mention of homosexuality in British schools in 1988. Since then, he has become one of the most visible figures in the movement.
McKellen has used his time in China to meet with and listen to the LGBTQ community, in private meetings, in bars and in the streets. “Communities,” he corrected, towards the end of his speech in response to an audience question. “There is no single gay community. We do not all agree, we do not all desire the same thing. If you disagree with others, then find your own path. You will meet them again when we reach our goal.”
~This article was written one week before the official opening of ShanghaiPRIDE 2016~
