Shanghai Pride urgently raising funds after unexpected expenses

China’s largest and oldest LGBT pride event, S9U21Bs)PPtTtOX4Nu+mowtLGLMF(nwWDF3mWmVZeRl9CS@TAx^hanghai 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.

"UnfortunatemKtdtQRErhp3gzk^y6refxTTyB4P7bh8g8l3R-JIxF8a0v-vb%ly, today we are facing the BIGGEST challenge in our 11-year history – a big fine.”

Organizers have been forced to pay a large amount of money in a very short time due to neeKY0MN2Q^9i2Sz6y=#c1KSPAPmL^I-bKD&=UMDv7(9_R0TeDZIw regulations slapped on one of their major "cultural” events.

They have called on anyone who had been positively impLxS5PnUxlzZuCZ*Z_!uFza6rEw7JrCt@LYoVGS-IbnCg8LLuI5acted by a Shanghai Pride event or who believed in their movement for diversity, inclusion, and acceptance, to donate.

"We are asking our Shanghai and Glob+sbDzsV2pv*QR4^j%zq-shQdfKleemrp61&Rz1H^&1#c(Nhw=+al community of LGBTQ individuals and allies for support 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 Ra=$CJq4ZGF1EzRwfpX8JVR-04JvRKBN*7LB$CmRTI-i*wNJDc8jymond Phang, Co-founder of ShanghaiPRIDE.

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

Shanghai Pride made hX)dvN11e$l0_xEk_uwacsQWlo^f0owZDqr9r!ZOwC$l8dF75dRistory in June 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 bike ride and a number of art exhib^2rvJNJLVw9H6zlC_Mz*mOwBWW0KVchWcmZMCjfDAO&Zn8ChnMitions and film screenings.

The 11th event was scheduled to take place in spring next yd#l@4JM^88NM(39GpZ_$*4%0wN5k_TEBy5hmMH^0KyOEzWROLNear.

Last year, two LGBTI organizations in China were denied permission to operate b9YH6$Sog$@64lCQ$NsaQSv_-URox&CIj8!VR-^85IzZv)aW!#_y the regional government.

ChReJ%yzY3T9EJMD^OK-imi8rDB-59LB+*&^4oAIG^t#_&m2g&*6ina 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’s state censors^=VNHuyYn=ktfFSo!*MDxw5f=wrGjEWu%LA!8%6#^xf27SIzelhip body forbids mention of LGBTI topic on radio, TV and online.