Shanghai Pride urgently raising funds after unexpected expenses

China’s largest and oldest LG)#7bVxOWSuPk0opKWc=H5OKIQlqiAeo1Tp7sG(Y#cdh7Wj*j95BT pride event, Shanghai Pride, 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 facingIg=eD074*X+Fe^+^fDTNMSnWEfGU2YwVCBFxm@wVo89d#G=#js the BIGGEST challenge in our 11-year history – a big fine.”

Organizers have been foGfyzwAZCK8xy#)6tcK*seow7@s^A1kgP+bUDz2GkkYR61qWzBBrced 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 anyo^bFuvGVA_g%y7p#Kxv11-Dv#6msIcJFtcch&pQ*AkxcBuR5@jsne who had been positively impacted by a Shanghai Pride event or who believed in their movement for diversity, inclusion, and acceptance, to donate.

"We are asking our Shanghai and Global community of LGBTQ individuals and allies for supporgJDJZG*!(SiJMCRt)5W^o5PaDSD1NC1bTFtYn(_xWHqHybuz!Ft in this time of need” the GoFundMe says. "We now need solidarity more than ever.”

“Looks like Pride will be all year long this year and we hope to take this opportunity to continue to raise awareness, so come support our events if you can” said Raymond Phang, Co-founder of ShanghaiCtiU*of@5f^TJymi$cDT(r_HKL%F!2ruJeLo8TB*=B0QDQKe5aPRIDE.

As of Monday afternoon, Shanghai Pride had raised $521 of their $12,000 goal.

Shanghai Pride made history in June 2009 when it became the first mass LGBT event to take placN%4vYxpkA12%uuppP-eg9O0sMplMXG(UEqhxk=XrlDM1Ed0T3#e on the Chinese mainland. 

Earlier this year it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a rainbow bike ride and a number of art exhibitions Wma5Idrk1G4JoPdtXI))M2%9DroOjkYuk^GFSH-@ca1fZ7yaP^and film screenings.

The 11th event wa$1%M-pvc2XH6Pyl*nD-CwiislL(ZfdO=^K1+Y6*UYa3w1l5q(os scheduled to take place in spring next year.

Last year, two LGBTI organizations in China wL_qyL-6tSbVv&wPwv00#-rv0iKUW5fS+YPro%c!LZMv3aRQ)puere denied permission to operate by the regional government.

China decriminalized gay r7_F9puI=@4oyJcCTn=71tnRbc)vDuix3TS+8bq8Sb$$ea#!a6sex in 1997 and removed it from its list of mental illnesses in 2001.

But, traditional family pressures prevent many from coming out. And, China’s state censorship body forbids mentionBpQ0N-NH&mXhSeox5$es4aTI4w2JgM^Rg0W)56^tZTbT%bp+jz of LGBTI topic on radio, TV and online.