Shanghai Pride urgently raising funds after unexpected expenses

China’s largest and oldest LGBT pride eventpwsvB(zsCf)TDx%2-OuNyG(VtuxU7@kC5pFMD*6Y_a_KqPkfR8, 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 facing the BIGGEST challenge in our 11-year h#vJTPrI#iayI=gp!N&=s&cdjZc@$KySfVo!+l3-iCut%yyz!*qistory – a big fine.”

Organizers have been forced to pay a large amount of moneypX^DmblI1y5j&h5ycjR2_-HXlqO^5_E81tu0krhdzycwaG^MMX 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 movement for diversity, inclusion, and accept#ocaPuuj*hryR8@CmR=qwek+S6LNgVMQI!4Amd=ko8GtvCHPutance, to donate.

"We are asking our Shanghai and Global community of LGBTQ individuals anA42CwsM!+3yaEb4*S))!(p!g9jtwNzb_vDFZMYL=m_#nMufem-d allies for support in this time of need” the GoFundMe says. "We now need solidarity more than ever.”

“Looks like Pride will be al3OC9M9rLe0YZSnPNnIXq0^zB5T_xc7&TzEUKn11gDDHtxQE2dMl 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 ShanghaiPRIDE.

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

Shanghai Pride made history in JSS_g90!Q^Yau+S+7KmnmU*$yf=NQ^A=x-bSM3V$eys=yIPEbM!une 2009 when it became the first mass LGBT event to take place on the Chinese mainland. 

Earlier this year it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a rainbow uuwWQ++ToifIZxQDKBkaC7&-NFCINzs@iA#f_$*O@tB9fEa3B@bike ride and a number of art exhibitions and film screenings.

The 11th event was scheduled to take place in spring next ZR2ST-wKvh_qAP3XoYLM$+mV*3Mm)shvtm#$*6j&9u(YZcHtnfyear.

Last year, two LGBTI organizations in China were denied permission to op0qXLT95&wWd24sHY(2Vf0oCOn1f7RprhFWn6-_Z0%2_zFe3F0Kerate by the regional government.

China decriminalized gay sex in 1997 and remozu)^a&8^gY+eN$T3y%IP^$v-=rgnPVr*TRtT!bxDC&B*iV(E_Jved it from its list of mental illnesses in 2001.

But, traditional fKLOErjkJqQeiW^xy3AA$5RjkI7^a3i49!0lPs+1*VE%Yvs+zuVamily pressures prevent many from coming out. And, China’s state censorship body forbids mention of LGBTI topic on radio, TV and online.