China Gay Bars support Aids HIV awareness

Nineteen gay venues in Beijing have launched a joint education campaign to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS among their clients.

The venues, mostly bars, will distribute free condoms, display AIDS awareness posters and even promote the safe sex message in dance performances.

According to the memorandum of understanding, bar owners are responsible for promoting safe sex among their gay clientele in their venues.

Condom vending machines will be installed in many venues, and trained staff will be offered a financial bonus for promoting the safe sex message.

"As the Internet develops rapidly, people are coming to terms with their sexuality much earlier, and are being more sexually active from a younger age," Xiao said.

"Some HIV-infected men are just 16 years old."

More than half of gay men are believed to have multiple sex partners, and some also have female partners, increasing the risk of the virus spreading among women.

This, according to the WHO, accounts for a major reason why gay men are considered a high-risk group.

"I believe gays in China face less discrimination than in the West. Some people think it is just different sexual orientation," one bar owner surnamed Sun, who signed the AIDS education campaign statement, said.