Dr. Li, 32 years old, is the first successful staff member of the Jiangmen disease control department to infiltrate the male homosexual community as an AIDS prevention worker. His other identity is a member of the Jiangmen Disease Control Center's High-Risk Behavior Intervention Team (shortened to "Gao Gan Team") and also a doctor at the voluntary AIDS consultation clinic. When talking about his work, Dr. Li’s shy face is filled with a sense of accomplishment. He can face-to-face promote AIDS prevention to these hidden male homosexuals; his "entry" did not disrupt their tranquility but instead gained their respect, listening, understanding, and tolerance.
Dr. Li said that in the next stage, the city's disease control center will collaborate with the city's Red Ribbon Care Association and various district-level disease control departments to widely recruit male homosexual intervention work volunteers for professional training. Peer education will be used for AIDS prevention.
Informant Introduction Successful Infiltration
Background: Intravenous drug injection, sex services, and male homosexuality are currently the main three bridge populations of AIDS prevalence in China. In 2009, among the newly infected nationwide, male-male transmission accounted for 32.5% of new infections, increasing sharply by 20.3% compared to 2007. However, due to current policies mainly targeting the first two groups, it has become urgent to intervene and promote AIDS awareness among the male homosexual population in Jiangmen, known as the "old disaster area of AIDS epidemic in Guangdong." This group exists in reality but remains hidden from society, being relatively closed-off and highly sensitive to outsiders.
First Entry Immediately Kicked Out
Southern Metropolis Daily: How did you find the male homosexual organization?
Dr. Li: Mainly through tracking and visiting voluntary testers and previous clinic patients, I became friends with them, then was introduced by them.
Southern Metropolis Daily: Do they trust you?
Dr. Li: At first, we definitely need to do a good job with informants, telling them the nature of my work. After prolonged interaction, trust is established between us. We strictly keep their information confidential. With the help of informants, I get to know many people within the circle.
Southern Metropolis Daily: Is this circle large?
Dr. Li: Some QQ groups I joined have between 200-400 people each.
Southern Metropolis Daily: Are there any rules within the circle?
Dr. Li: There are many industry-specific terms. For example, those who play the male role are called "Ge" or marked as "1", the female role is called "Jie" or marked as "0", and those who can play both roles are marked as "0.5". A normal person entering the group would attract a lot of attention and caution, and they would come to ask for your information. The content and order of the information are important: age + height + weight + orientation (i.e., the code). If you're not part of the same circle, you wouldn't understand what it means, so I was kicked out the first time I tried.
Re-entering with a "1" Identity
Southern Metropolis Daily: The first attempt failed.
Dr. Li: Directly going in as an AIDS prevention personnel indeed doesn't work, even though I was introduced by an informant and received support from the group's managers, some people still refused to participate when hearing that someone from the health station was coming to promote.
Southern Metropolis Daily: They all fear revealing their identities.
Dr. Li: There's no way around it; I had to go in as someone from within the circle.
Southern Metropolis Daily: So are you "male" or "female"?
Dr. Li: Number 1. However, my identity on QQ is 0.5. When the circle organizes activities or gatherings, it's generally mutual "friend finding". Everyone gets excited, especially when new members join. People are very cautious. If the newcomer is very handsome, it's like looking at a beautiful woman.
Southern Metropolis Daily: What was the scene like during your first gathering?
Dr. Li: The first time I went, I kept a low profile and hid in the corner. The informant was nearby, and everyone thought we were "lovers".
Southern Metropolis Daily: Since no one knows each other, how do you distinguish between "males" and "females"?
Dr. Li: If the other party is interested, they will come up and ask if you are "Ge" or "Jie". Based on dressing characteristics, tone of voice, and personality, people within the circle can usually tell.
His Perspective on Homosexuals
Background: The male homosexual population, unfamiliar to the general public, makes up an unknown percentage of the entire society. But it is certain that they exist across all industries and levels of society. Traditional morality may not accept them, but emotionally, they can be understood.
The Youngest Seen Was Only 13 Years Old
Southern Metropolis Daily: Now that you are familiar with them, will they tell you their true identities?
Dr. Li: We are all humans with emotions, just different orientations. After becoming friends, we chat and exchange ideas. Almost every industry is represented in the circle, including teachers, students, police officers, and workers.
Southern Metropolis Daily: What about age?
Dr. Li: The oldest I've seen was over 50, and the youngest was only 13 years old, heard he just started junior high school. All were introduced by friends.
They Also Have True Love
Southern Metropolis Daily: Is the emotional relationship between male homosexuals different from heterosexual relationships?
Dr. Li: I think it's about the same, with love, hate, passion, and heartbreak. There are those who truly "date" and others involved in sexual transactions.
Southern Metropolis Daily: Actually, they also have true love.
Dr. Li: Yes. I know of a case where two pairs of "lovers," one male homosexual and one female homosexual, married each other to satisfy their elders. They nominally formed separate families, but in actual life, they didn't interfere with each other and continued to be with their own "lovers."
The Dilemma of the Infiltrator
Background: Due to the special nature of the work, the high-risk team members face severe physical and mental tests. Additionally, there is pressure and anxiety from family, society, and friends.
Potential Orientation May Be Stimulated
Southern Metropolis Daily: When interacting with them, do you feel scared?
Dr. Li: Initially, I was somewhat worried. For example, during the first gathering, I drank only Coca-Cola and dared not drink alcohol, fearing saying something wrong or doing something inappropriate or encountering unexpected situations.
Southern Metropolis Daily: After prolonged interaction, do you consciously or unconsciously consider yourself part of the circle?
Dr. Li: Perhaps, it might stimulate latent tendencies in a person. But I'm fine; I still love women now. (laughs loudly)
Once Caused Worry for Wife
Southern Metropolis Daily: Does your family know what you do?
Dr. Li: They know and are relatively supportive. But initially, they were concerned, especially my wife. We often communicate, and she gradually understands. It's determined by the nature of the work; for the sake of work, there's no other way. Now when I chat on QQ, she is very obedient and does not disturb me.
Hoping Society Becomes More Tolerant
Southern Metropolis Daily: For this job, you must have sacrificed a lot of rest time, right?
Dr. Li: We do this for "their" benefit. Many people within the circle understand. It's not only for their physical and mental health but also responsible for the entire society. The process of AIDS prevention is very difficult, involving hardships and fatigue, but also a sense of achievement. If the whole society could be more inclusive, our work would be easier to carry out.
Written by Southern Metropolis Daily reporter Tang Bo