Shades of Visibility: Lesbian Activism in Beijing, 1990–2009

The Lecture

In this presentation, Ming LUO examines the evolving strategies of visibility among lesbians in Beijing from 1990 to 2009—a topic long marginalized by scholarship that has predominantly focused on male-centered gay activism and HIV/AIDS frameworks. Drawing on over 80 oral history interviews with activists, scholars, and community leaders, her research reveals how lesbians have developed multifaceted modes of visibility to challenge a socio-political landscape that frequently renders queer lives invisible. This work underscores that the quest for visibility is not a simple binary between being seen and being hidden; rather, it is a dynamic, context-dependent process that continuously adapts to shifting cultural, political, and social environments.

By situating this inquiry within broader social movement theories, Ming illustrates how lesbian activism in Beijing contributes to the debate between identity politics and post-identity politics. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, activists have navigated a spectrum of strategies—from cautious public engagement to assertive, rights-based advocacy—to negotiate the complexities imposed by state policies that operate as a form of necropolitics. These state-driven practices of erasure seek to silence queer existence, yet the lesbian community has responded by crafting diverse forms of visibility that both assert their presence and safeguard their collective well-being.

Moreover, Ming's research highlights the significant role of transnational and transregional connections in shaping these strategies. While earlier analyses have tended to associate queer activism with international HIV/AIDS or human rights frameworks, Ming's findings suggest that grassroots transnational networks offer more flexible, individualized channels for identity mobilization and resistance. These networks have influenced how lesbian activists adapt their strategies over time, enabling them to forge a resilient and evolving visibility that resonates with both local imperatives and global influences.

This presentation invites audiences to reconsider paradigms of queer activism in restrictive socio-political contexts. By exploring how marginalized communities in Beijing have redefined visibility on their own terms, Ming aims to contribute to a richer understanding of the transformative practices that empower lesbians to contest erasure and assert their rightful place in public and cultural narratives.

The Speaker

Ming LUO is an Assistant Professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on gender and sexuality, urban-rural migration, and bullying and violence. She has published numerous papers in both international and Chinese journals, including the British Journal of Sociology, Geographical Research, and Global Education. In addition to her research, she is involved in academic translation, having translated works such as Masculine Compromise; Nothing Bad Happens to Good Girls; and The Roots of American Individualism.

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