Danny Wang, China
Weipeng Wang has spent 4 years studying Teaching Chinese as A Foreign Language and is now pursing a Master's Degree in Translation at Beijing Language and Culture University, China. He has been a part-time English teacher in the New Oriental Education & Technology Group for 3 years and has delivered many Chinese tutoring lessons to foreigners from all walks of life. He was selected and served as a cast member in Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, 2015. Thanks to the exposure to diverse culture and the identity as a sexual minority himself, he has always been enthusiastic about understanding the gay community in both China and the USA, as well as exploring queer studies by comparing different cultural backgrounds and resorting to different ways, especially LGBT literature as well as films. He aims to study queer theory as well as gay education in Canada and combine it with Chinese literature so as to not only make his nation understand the situation of sexually marginalized groups, but also introduce his own cultural essence in a brand new way.
The Story
"Born in one of the poorest villages in south China, I realized that I had a crush on my best buddy when I was in junior high. A bittersweet feeling and anxiety made me swallow my secret deep down. After learning the word ‘gay’ and its definition from the dictionary, I felt released that at least I belong to some ‘tribe’. At the same time, I told myself to keep a low profile because there was no way the conservative mindset and tradition kept by rural residents could bear with this. Being a gay then was a torture, let alone the teenager I had feelings for was straight. No one in my village knew what being gay is, which meant the only thing I could do was staring at him through window during lessons or strolling alongside the Yangtze River at weekends. A sudden telephone call or a glance from him could bring me ecstasy without any doubt. However, the most intimate respond I could make was being his best friend. I hate the word ‘friend’.
Enrolled by the university in Harbin, the capital in China’s most Northeastern Province, I entered a brand new chapter of my life. Being thousands of miles away from home, offered me the freedom to explore a gays’ life and gain a better understanding about my own identity in a city with 6 million residents. In the second semester, I summoned my courage to come ‘out’ to roommates. Surprisingly, they not only accepted my sexual orientations, but also expressed that they would be a safe haven for me to seek help and support. This made me believe for the first time in my life, that I never should feel guilty for being myself as a homosexual. The delight when finding many gays around me remained clear in my mind. However, partly due to its remote geological locations and relative sluggish economic status, Harbin still couldn’t provide a desirable space for LGBTQI. My relationships were all quiet and hidden for four years. As of now, there still are some sparks shining in my memory with them: On the bus heading back to the campus from Kevin’s place, I can’t help but weep because he had to break up with me because he was going to marry a heterosexual woman who has no idea he is a gay. I felt a strong sense of shame for Kevin, in contrast to the sympathy for his future wife, which filled my heart.
On the bed in a small motel, outside it was snowing heavily, my beloved Peter bursted into tears and confessed to me: “Danny, you are the first and last man I date, two men can’t have any future in China, your family and people’s stereotypes are barriers and hurdles you can not ignore, so go find yourself a girl and get married. I have applied to move to Canada and decided to look for a female partner.” Right now I am in Beijing, the capital of China, doing my Master’s Degree. Even though, I have more words to say about the status quo in the sexual minority community in this beautiful metropolis, my blog has exceeded 500 words. So, if I am lucky enough to go to Bangkok to join in the Case for Space. I hope I can share my true stories and reflections about sexual minority in the unique context and environment in China, a country with capitalist economy but a quite conservative mindset."
Enrolled by the university in Harbin, the capital in China’s most Northeastern Province, I entered a brand new chapter of my life. Being thousands of miles away from home, offered me the freedom to explore a gays’ life and gain a better understanding about my own identity in a city with 6 million residents. In the second semester, I summoned my courage to come ‘out’ to roommates. Surprisingly, they not only accepted my sexual orientations, but also expressed that they would be a safe haven for me to seek help and support. This made me believe for the first time in my life, that I never should feel guilty for being myself as a homosexual. The delight when finding many gays around me remained clear in my mind. However, partly due to its remote geological locations and relative sluggish economic status, Harbin still couldn’t provide a desirable space for LGBTQI. My relationships were all quiet and hidden for four years. As of now, there still are some sparks shining in my memory with them: On the bus heading back to the campus from Kevin’s place, I can’t help but weep because he had to break up with me because he was going to marry a heterosexual woman who has no idea he is a gay. I felt a strong sense of shame for Kevin, in contrast to the sympathy for his future wife, which filled my heart.
On the bed in a small motel, outside it was snowing heavily, my beloved Peter bursted into tears and confessed to me: “Danny, you are the first and last man I date, two men can’t have any future in China, your family and people’s stereotypes are barriers and hurdles you can not ignore, so go find yourself a girl and get married. I have applied to move to Canada and decided to look for a female partner.” Right now I am in Beijing, the capital of China, doing my Master’s Degree. Even though, I have more words to say about the status quo in the sexual minority community in this beautiful metropolis, my blog has exceeded 500 words. So, if I am lucky enough to go to Bangkok to join in the Case for Space. I hope I can share my true stories and reflections about sexual minority in the unique context and environment in China, a country with capitalist economy but a quite conservative mindset."