The Great Wall of China isn’t just a physical wall. Tight government controls and media censorship means it can be difficult to get information about what exactly is going on inside China. The LGBTIQ community, while not enjoying total freedom, has not been persecuted as in some other countries. But with the recent sudden cancellation of Shanghai Pride, could this be a sign of changes to come under the long rule of Xi Jinping?

Jean Chong is a long time LGBTIQ activist and Chairperson of the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus – a network of human rights activists across Southeast Asia. Jean has been watching the changes in China, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and brings us some insights on how the LGBTIQ community is holding up and what the future might bring.