by Carrie Baker

SHANGHAI, June 20, 2006 – It seems that social change is starting to happen in some of China’s coastal cities. Up until 2001 homosexuality was seen as a mental disorder within China and now with the help of the Hong Kong-based Chi Heng Foundation, a lesbian hotline is set to open its lines soon.

Staffing for the hotline has already begun. The lesbian line will be staffed by lesbians only, like its gay counterpart that is staffed by homosexual men only. What makes this notable is that lesbian and gays still face discrimination and are still stigmatized as proven by the fact that the organization had a very difficult time finding enough volunteers to work the line.

"To have female counselors at the center will make the women callers feel more secure," hotline staff member Shen Yiwu told the Shanghai Daily.

The hotline will service the cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou which are considered to be much more liberal than other areas of the country.

This service was created due to the success of a hotline that was set up for homosexual men primarily for AIDS and HIV support.

This is a big step for China’s attempt at social reform and stepping outside of its, sometimes archaic, social norms. During the Mao era, homosexuals were persecuted especially during the revolution where they faced prison time and even worse, death.

The success of the hotline is being seen by many as very important for gay and lesbians living all over China and their bid for social acceptance and equality.