Shanghai Pride urgently raising funds after unexpected expenses

China’s largest and oldest LGBT pride event, Shanghai Pride,$aHliiv=I6iZCeM-kK(&d495%k6(s_c&$!KXPj^YyVL6V-3P8w is urgently fundraising cash after being slapped with a large fine by local authorities.

“Every year, we have faced and also overcome countless obstacles and challenges,” organizers wrote on GoFundMe.

"Unfortunately, today we are facing the BIGGEST challenge in our 11-year history – a big fizj*9BIN6E7+EN=E8B$tI5#mNd+sjH8$Smw-GTK-c7j0dZK+s4rne.”

OrganizersfDSqcAb5UN#snjpySm1YkvyI1&J%#kN-M*Rb1Z^gvz5!TQ@4-w have been forced to pay a large amount of money in a very short time due to new regulations slapped on one of their major "cultural” events.

They have called on anyone who had been positively impacted by a Shanghai Pride event or who believed in their movemenqhZHV+#54kM8VsA%g%4%Tc3qOmxkM8pD=BRI0_M+EWJhTGL*FOt for diversity, inclusion, and acceptance, to donate.

"We are asking our Shanghai and Global community of LGBTQ individuals and allies for support in this time of need” the GoFundMe says. "We now need solidarity moreQU2b5@fYd$p2&zb5&gmlMoaqU!)ORbCQzR#_Nu_FQtwOps2Mrx than ever.”

“Looks like Pride will be all year long this year and we hope to take this opportunity to continue to raiseHBG@FvkT1gyp)z#g7_gU04@jXca2ITy7^6^f)AdU!PvVJN@Y5y awareness, so come support our events if you can” said Raymond Phang, Co-founder of ShanghaiPRIDE.

As of Monday afternoon, Shanghai Pride had raised $521 of their $12,Mz7EXR76FC%Bi3AjyJ)WjDwh5zLdPEsJXC!1%ag9ND1Z^PotD+000 goal.

Shanghai Pride made history in June 2009 when it became the first mass LGBT event to take placeJ7-6HkCuxwYfH!f3t+gm6GP8ohSR+W*^cdhuH+z@Roy0FOKJ&@ on the Chinese mainland. 

Eauc0bv9@gFqt1rP2F(nOoIJq8dczAKBnP^WeXA+y(WMbqC30Jsbrlier this year it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a rainbow bike ride and a number of art exhibitions and film screenings.

The 11th event was scheduled to tat%S2%GHBBjh=qcqItS*Y6zE-&ZQK3*!o^8hfVPpK%H)&Xtw)GNke place in spring next year.

LiT6T_)C3tsEhRJ-Yd(R%e=nxNQ)39GRZhI%8-Rp%iz9Ir+dHLbast year, two LGBTI organizations in China were denied permission to operate by the regional government.

China2b*R(3Z+*Irx=nMV$EK5lQvR0X(&q=y__izcDVJropK2%Yx)y) decriminalized gay sex in 1997 and removed it from its list of mental illnesses in 2001.

But, traditional family pressures prevent many from coming out. And, China’s4esB)U^HOPjt2s5J6%&mD32rKAN$O7Fay@mIU4)rLW@#=K#$F2 state censorship body forbids mention of LGBTI topic on radio, TV and online.