Transgender dancers: performances in China canceled, concerns about measures

Transgender dancers: performances in China canceled, concerns about measures

Transgender dancer Jin Xing has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the upper echelons of Chinese show business in Hong Kong. In a country where it has become increasingly difficult for LGBTQ+ people to live openly, her career is extraordinary. The 57-year-old has been considered a transgender icon in China for years, admired by many of the country's most marginalized people as a rare example of success and acceptance, even within official circles.

The challenges facing transgender people in China

Jin Xing has managed to carve out a decades-long career that challenges the norm. She fills concerts, hosts TV talk shows and has 13.6 million followers on her Weibo account. What is notable is that she has been able to secure the support of Communist Party officials over the years. The Chinese state media describes her as one of the “ten legendary figures of modern dance in China” and regularly publishes praise for her.

Growing fears and official acceptance

Recent events, particularly a series of sudden and inexplicable cancellations of her appearances by local authorities, have raised concerns that Chinese leader Xi Jinping's authoritarian course could also bring distress to the country's most prominent openly transgender figure. Transgender people in China often face social stigma and institutional discrimination, resulting in problems finding a job or even simply walking on the street. However, Jin is a symbol of hope for many that one day China might be progressive enough to embrace her and others.

The influence of ideology under Xi Jinping

Chinese authorities have tightened their ideological control and view Western values ​​as a harmful influence. In late 2022, Guangzhou's Jin Xing Dance Theater performances were canceled, sparking concerns among many in the LGBTQ+ community about possible repression. Sam Winter, an associate professor who specializes in Asian transgender issues, said Jin's achievements helped her gain support from authorities, especially at a time when China appeared to be more liberal. The regression in this liberal atmosphere may now be the real problem.

The Way of Jin Xing

Jin Xing was born into a military family and received rigorous training in dance and military drill. After going to New York to study modern dance in the 1980s, she eventually returned to China, where she underwent gender-affirming surgery. Despite the challenges associated with this decision, she founded the Jin Xing Dance Theater in 1999 and became a key figure in modern dance in China.

The reality for transgender people in China

Other transgender people, who are often not accepted in society, are also speaking out about Jin's challenges. Cyan, a 23-year-old trans man, said that living one's identity openly is impossible in China. Many transgender people have to immerse themselves in a “double life,” living as men during the day and women at night. What is happening to Jin reinforces pessimism and fears about the future development for LGBTQ+ people in China.

The reality is that gender-affirming surgeries are expensive and difficult to find in China. Even if money is not a problem, the conditions for accessing these services are strict, leaving many people in a hopeless situation. Jin Xing's fate could lead to further oppression of the LGBTQ+ community, and hopes for an accepting society seem in danger.