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Emerging Gay Identities in China: The Prevalence and Predictors of Social Discrimination Against Men Who Have Sex with Men

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Stigma, Discrimination and Living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The emergence of gay identities and communities in contemporary China clashes with many traditional cultural values and norms. As a result, men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a variety of subtle as well as blatant rejection and discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, which can result in deterioration of physical and mental well-being. Social discrimination against MSM in China may also have deleterious consequences for public health as individuals avoid taking health precautions as a means to avoid discovery or avert suspicion. To understand the extent of discrimination that Chinese MSM face and identify which individuals may be disproportionately affected, we query 477 MSM in Shanghai, China, about their lifetime encounters with discrimination. Almost 97 % of respondents had perceived some stigma at least once in their lifetime, whereas only 23 % had experienced at least one instance of discrimination. Results of multivariate regression analyses show that disclosure of one’s homosexuality differentially affects one’s experiences of each type of discrimination. For example, coming out to other MSM may have a protective effect against perceived stigma but significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing overt discrimination. On the other hand, being out to family members significantly increases perceived stigma, but being out to friends and colleagues decreases experiences of discrimination. Important interactions with migrant status are also found. Implications for social redress and public health interventions are discussed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Varimax rotation used.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA

    Jenny X. Liu

  2. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA

    Kyung-Hee Choi

Authors
  1. Jenny X. Liu
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  2. Kyung-Hee Choi
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Correspondence to Jenny X. Liu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086, Victoria, Australia

    Pranee Liamputtong

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Liu, J.X., Choi, KH. (2013). Emerging Gay Identities in China: The Prevalence and Predictors of Social Discrimination Against Men Who Have Sex with Men. In: Liamputtong, P. (eds) Stigma, Discrimination and Living with HIV/AIDS. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6324-1_16

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