Shanghai (photos 1-20) is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world, with over 20 million people in its extended metropolitan area. The city is mainland China’s center for commerce and finance, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world’s fastest-growing economy.
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Burma
Cambodia
China
East Timor
Georgia
Guam
India – Bombay – Humsafar
Humsafar Trust is the premier health education and sexuality rights organization in India. They offer services and outreach to thousands of people. These photos are of the drop-in center in Mumbai. The Humsafar drop-in center, inaugurated in November 1995, has a long history and has played host to several Mumbaikars from college students to Page
India – Bombay-Delhi-Khajuraho
Mumbai is formerly Bombay and is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. (photos 1-21) Delhi has been continuously inhabited since at least 6th century BC. (photos 22-31) Near Udaipur are the the Nagada temples at Sas Bahu with some erotic carvings. (photos 32-36) The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a
Gay Life in Japan 2009
Two Guest writers reveal the obvious and hidden delights, differences and frustrations of living and visiting in modern gay Japan.
Mongolia – Ulan Bator and Drive to White Lake
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East-Central Asia. It borders Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest city, is home to about 38% of the population. Mongolia’s political system is a parliamentary republic. At 1,564,116 square kilometres, Mongolia is the nineteenth largest, and the
Vietnam – Demilitarized Zone of the War
Before the American War (1965-75) the Ben Hai River divided ‘democratic’ South Viet Nam and communist North Viet Nam. The demilitarized zone spread about 5 km north and south of the river. During the war the DMZ was heavily militarized and became one of the most savaged places on earth. Located here was the huge
Gay Bhutan
A story about gay Bhutan is not much of a tale. There is no visible gay presence, no venues, no organizations. What little can be reported is only discerned from a few anecdotes reported by observers who have lived in this small mountain country–and who are hesitant to tell all they know. Included here are three commentary/interviews by three insiders who offer small windows of knowledge about Bhutan’s open secret tradition of sacred and secular bi-sexuality.
India – Bangalore
Bangalore, with 6 million people, is another of India’s high tech progressive ‘success’ stories with its blend of old poverty and new earned wealth. It is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. It’s a crowded place with an elegant capital building, traffic jams, famous cafes and trendy shops. It is also home to
India – Udaipur-Varanasi
A visit to the beautiful Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur and to Varanasi on the Ganges River with the ghats for burning corpses. Read the stories about gay India
Gay Singapore 1996: Renovating The Closet
Intro: Singapore is a traditionally conservative Asian country, known for its stringent laws. But it’s also one of the top economic and technological ‘tigers’ of the twenty-first century. The clash of these two forces, old and new, is slowly but surely bringing change for the better for lesbigays here. Also see: Gay Singapore Stories
India – Chennai – Madras (1)
Chennai is a major city of over six million, India’s 4th largest metropolis. It has its share of propserous new-age companies and flashy structures. In this gallery are some historic venues such as the Fort St. George built by the British East India Company in 1653, now the administrative headquarters for the legislative assembly of
India – Buddhist Monastery
An hour west of Mysore is the impressive Namdroling Buddhist Monastery and School where 5000 monks and students from many areas of India and southeast Asia come to teach, pray and study ancient scripts and modern science. Read the stories about gay India
Gay Singapore 1997–Censored (Almost)
Intro: A short commentary on my second exposure to this squeaky-clean city-state where lesbigays are clearly present, well-dressed–and with few places to go. Gay life might be narrow and suppressed here, but the overall quality of life in Singapore makes it quite bearable. Also see: Gay Singapore Stories Gay Singapore News & Reports 2000
India – Chennai – Madras (2)
Chennai is a major city of over six million, India’s 4th largest metropolis. It has its share of prosperous new-age companies and flashy structures. Tucked into the myriad of crowded streets and dense alleys are occasional leafy cafes such as Amethyst Cafe/Boutique that offer fine food and quality merchandise for middle and upper class customers.
Gay Nepal: A Struggle Against History
At an International Lesbian and Gay Association conference, delegates gathered from more than one hundred countries to report on the condition of LGBT life. Among the leaders was Sunil Pant from Kathmandu, Nepal, head of Blue Diamond Society. I spoke to Sunil and listened to his confident voice describing the difficulties of fostering pro-gay understanding
Gay Singapore 2010
Intro: An updated trip to this prosperous city-state where the LGBT community has learned well the rules for survival and good business. Today’s gay Singapore is surprisingly active, varied and always pushing the envelop of tolerance. Also see: Gay Singapore Stories Gay Singapore News & Reports 2000 to present Gay Singapore Photo Galleries By Richard
Gay Afghanistan, After the Taliban. Homosexuality as Tradition
Introduction: With the fall of the Taliban government and its inhumane restrictions on normal life (including homosexual favoritism), old sexual traditions have re-surfaced as Afghanistan rebuilds its shattered culture.
Gay Cambodia 1997-2012
Two weeks in Cambodia was enough time to see the wondrous ancient ruins at Angkor Wat and to encounter the different faces of gay life here. I listened to a gay British doctor in Phnom Penh who was jailed, visited a gay dentist volunteering his services, watched the handsome but poor money boys and unexpectedly
Guam – Tumon Town and Island Drive
Guam is a scenic Pacific protectorate island of the USA and home to a large military base. Not surprising there is a commercial and residential community that has built up to serve the base including a modest gay community and venues. Read the story about gay Guam
India – Goa-Baga-Calangute
Two of India’s most popular beaches for locals and foreigners are Baga and Calangute beaches that offer miles of white beaches, many hotels and restaurants. On these lovely beaches, Goans and tourists spend summers, bathing in or walking along the sea. Most people enjoy the sun and sand fully clothed. Baga is a small but
Gay Indonesia–Jakarta 2002-08
Intro: In 1998, a magazine declared Indonesia as "descending into madness"–government instability, economic liability, racial attacks, religious violence. But an individual is not a label and a country is not a headline. I added Indonesia to my journey because that country of 14,000 islands swarms with beauty: flowers, mountain rainforests, ancient temples, artwork, architecture, exotic
Nepal – Kathmandu and Area
Historically, Nepal had many small kingdoms and the modern state was formed with the Unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah on December 21, 1768. Prior to 2006, Nepal was a kingdom. Nepal is now a federal democratic republic.[2] Its recent history has involved struggles for democratic government with periods of direct monarchic rule. From
Singapore – City: (1)
Singapore is one of three remaining true city-states in the world. It is the smallest nation in Southeast Asia.It is the 6th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita. The population of Singapore is approximately 4.6 million. Though Singapore is highly cosmopolitan and diverse, ethnic Chinese form the majority of the
Gay Thailand 2008–Scene and Unseen
Gay life in Thailand is alive and well in half a dozen cities and towns, having survived six years of a homophobic prime minister. Now revitalized with more venues than ever, the scene continues to be as it was, both visible and invisible. Despite the glitter and spice of the nightlife, most LGBT citizens continue
Gay Vietnam (Hanoi): Crouching Love, Hidden Passion
Hidden in the tightly woven fabric of conservative northern Vietnam culture, gay men seek out love and life using high tech Internet and low tech T-rooms. Among the beauty of the coastline and the rugged high mountains, most lesbigays are married and deny their secret. But romantic truth for younger gays is slowly emerging into