In what could be called a gay pride parade in its own right, flight after flight took off from Beijing Capital Airport headed to Shanghai filled with the queerest of Beijing’s queers. The reason being the first gay pride in China, an event that most of us here in the Capital couldn’t miss. Beijing already held a coming out party last year for the Olympics and now Shanghai wanted to come out too, but only to scream “we’re queer!” not “Beijing Huan Ying Ni!”
As expected, most of us only went down for the parties, completely missing the cultural aspects of Pride Week. Once we landed, we jumped headfirst into the parties starting with an all-you-can-drink event at Shanghai Studio. The claustrophobic underground bomb-shelteresque bar was overflowing with homos. If the Soviet menace were to suddenly reappear with the bomb being dropped on Shanghai, the only ones to survive would be 200 inebriated homos in feather boas and sequined gowns. Unfortunately, we would be the wrong people for repopulation. Thankfully the Soviets didn’t make an appearance, but the much more feared hangover from the suspect alcohol did.
The big event was Saturday and was the reason most abandoned the Capital for a little bit of the southern custom. The big event started off at Cotton’s, a charming bar located in a western style residence in the French Concession, complete with an outdoor lawn area. Hidden behind thick trees, only the huge rainbow flags hanging outside facing the street gave an indication of the queer merriment hidden within. The crowd was thick and so was the heat – the trees encompassing the property stifled any breeze causing the heat to become unbearable. But what gay pride would be complete without a bunch of hot and sweaty homos? Following a series of drag shows, interesting games meant to teach the importance of safe sex and a few gay weddings, everyone stumbled on a bus and headed to the Bund to top off the night at one of Shanghai’s hottest new bars.
Glamour Bar, located in an old Japanese shipping office along the Bund, is one classy joint. With beautiful interiors, great drinks, and awesome views of the historic environs, Shanghai Pride organizers picked the perfect spot to end a historic week of homo pride. Those lucky enough to be able to get into the jam-packed event, were able to let loose for one last night of mayhem before next year’s Pride event. Unfortunately, the ventilation couldn’t handle the massive amount of people causing the place to turn into one giant gay sauna, leading people to rush to the windows for some fresh air. The music was another sour part of the evening since the DJ seemed to be someone’s iPod shuffle. Despite that, it was one amazing party that ended for many at D2, Shanghai’s Destination, long after the Glamour gave out its last call. D2 was the perfect ending with its many topless boys and gorgeous bartenders, something that Destination should take notes from.
Now that Shanghai Pride is over, perhaps we here in the gray Capital in the north should start thinking how we can turn all this gray to pink for a week of queer celebration.
