China won't send delegate to Mr. Gay pageant

BEIJING - China will not send a delegate to the Worldwide Mr. Gay pageant next month, an organizer said Monday, after police blocked his event to choose a Chinese contestant.

Police shut down the first-ever Mr. Gay China pageant just before the event started Friday, but organizers had planned to privately select a candidate from the eight contestants. They have now reversed their decision, so no one from China will compete at the pageant in Oslo, Norway.

"This was a very carefully considered decision," said Ben Zhang, a pageant organizer. "We just cannot send anyone, the organizers and competitors came to this decision together."

Zhang declined to elaborate on the reasons for not sending a delegate.

Homosexuality remains a sensitive topic in China. Gays are frequently discriminated against and ostracized, and any Chinese national who competes at the Norway pageant would likely be the target of uncomfortable scrutiny, especially after police canceled Mr. Gay China.

Police cited a lack of permits for canceling the pageant at a swanky Beijing club. Chinese authorities frequently cite procedural reasons for closing down gatherings deemed politically sensitive.

The pageant would have featured a fashion show and a host in drag.