Chinese gay activists condemn US attack

BEIJING: As many as 190 gay rights organisations from across China on Tuesday released a joint letter condemning terrorism and sexuality-based violence following the massacre in Orlando, where a gunman killed 49 people.

It is rare for China’s gay rights groups to make high-profile statements and even rarer for them to show solidarity with a cause involving foreigners.

State media called it the “largest coordinated effort” by the country’s gay rights groups, which usually maintain a low profile while fighting for their own rights.

“We, the members of China's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, wish to express our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families, friends, and loved ones, and all those affected by this monstrous act,” read the letter released by the organisations

STATE MEDIA CALLED IT THE “LARGEST COORDINATED EFFORT” BY CHINA’S GAY RIGHTS GROUPS, WHICH USUALLY MAINTAIN A LOW PROFILE

and quoted by state media.

“Together with them, we grieve the loss of so many innocent lives and strongly condemn terrorism and all forms of violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression,” the letter said.

Investigators in the US are probing if the gunman, Omar Mateen, was homophobic. Reports said Mateen was himself a regular at the gay club where the massacre took place on Sunday. But the mass shooting in the US – often considered as China’s adversary in world affairs touched a chord among many in this country.