Shanghai Pride urgently raising funds after unexpected expenses

China’s largL2%Ert0t&Ag%(i-%$UjOIs^y@e0U^mKpXGJO014AHJ$K9Nr6)!est and oldest LGBT 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 facing the BIGGEST challenge in our 11-year history – a big fiSmHguaOs+=lC==y&T5w(WHDIFxNklWox6wgSotkF^+B(%lGUHsne.”

Organizers have been forced to pay a largr^mI-9U*K_wcLWH&xaGRl3Qts!P2d0ZQKg5Jx$hHGPZfqIY(@8e 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 poscz+Hyp=^1$)^e2sJwMMGYzxC8iTU_z6CG8g)v4NLs!sGZjbvEEitively 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 support in this time of need” the GoFundqO1t)#1qpp%nml%%DfrtdbOV9bMJvSBrQBJWf5Mu77)lQEv*4NMe says. "We now need solidarity more than ever.”

“Looks like Pride will be all year long this riwU!*=ly*TqDJ+HUEjgMhv7QXd7*39bVZw7HvJo%XnRtoyhZjyear 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 O%Pg%i#c%JH)EuWUQ6jb5&yDy%RJ#Q8up=A(Rjs(ba(e)ANV@r$12,000 goal.

Sh#YSZgP)!tHpC_5kB=%)HqU1v%4FjL@*xF3E@^XVlo^i=zsaE%Tanghai Pride made history 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 azmdelo^EA_XD1UGt#G(3YS9j&c_bdyV7e55yXgNvUEZ2ouA=1Hnd a number of art exhibitions and film screenings.

The 11th event was schQO$p!azjrw#6=HMF9OknaisE36s*h8NERjs)+@=*Q-IWMjRglneduled to take place in spring next year.

Last year, two LGBTI organizations in China were denied -&8*+bgq8gu_*)lKl)5+Y=gmiYj&ScNm5d5D^mSa9GQ)VPiLk_permission to operate by the regional government.

China decriminalized gay sex in 1997 and removed it from its list of mental illnesses in 20TXK7CaDyVZ$gSTd9A0R%JZI0aVK-x$6X_%@xK=z8bMcNd9UR@_01.

But, traditional family pressures prevent many from coming out. And, China’s state censorship body forbids mention ofsza!wXIN(1%zB#6R1k&5I@P78IPMP&xZ&h$hrc2QZYqJE0MHmh LGBTI topic on radio, TV and online.