"Gay and lesbian weddings" on Beijing streets

On Valentine's Day (February 14), 2009 two lesbians and two gay men held wedding photo sessions on Qianmen Avenue, one of Beijing's most famous shopping streets, in an effort to win support for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

27-year-old Xin Di and 24-year-old Xiao Han, both dressed in wedding gowns, stood on Qianmen Avenue hand in hand. With passers-by staring in amazement, they kissed each other and called out, "Welcome to our wedding."

Lesbians 27-year-old Xin Di and 24-year-old Xiao Han both wear wedding dresses as they celebrate their "marriage" in a Beijing shopping street.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xian, one of the organizers, was asking people, "If you were invited to a same-sex marriage, would you go?"

"I would go, and give the couple my blessing," said one middle aged woman, before hurrying off looking slightly embarrassed.

Another of the organizers, Sam, is the founder of les+ magazine. All the organizers are completely open about their sexuality.

Sam gave curious onlookers roses and slips of paper with the words, "Men are born equal and love should have no boundaries. We are gay and we hope our love will be accepted by people and that same-sex marriages will be acknowledged in law. Please give your support to all people who love each other, to gays and lesbians, so as to promote equality in society. We wish all lovers a happy life."

Similar open affirmations of identity by gays and lesbians have been held in Beijing for the past three years. On Valentine's Day last year, activists gave out roses to passers-by in Beijing's downtown business districts, calling people's attention to the existence of the city's gay and lesbian community.

This Valentine's Day they planned the wedding photo sessions. They chose two gays and two lesbians who were willing to take part in the photo sessions. In reality they are not lovers at all. They each have their own same-sex partners in real life.