Interesting news from China, where homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder until 2001. China has opened its first hotline for lesbians following the success of a service for gay men, state media reported on Wednesday.

The free hotline operates in Shanghai, the free-wheeling financial centre where social change has outpaced the rest of China. The hotline opened earlier this week. The new line is staffed by trained counsellors and the plan is to provide “real help” for lesbians.

“Many lesbians in China are pressured into marrying men and end up living miserable lives,” sociologist Li Yinhe was quoted as saying. Understanding and tolerance from lesbians’ families and friends were needed, she added.

Recent Chinese history – During the Mao era, homosexuals were persecuted, especially during the Cultural Revolution when they risked prison terms and even death sentences. Even today homosexuals still face stigma and discrimination.

China doesn’t have any official statistics on homosexuality. The health authority estimated there were five to 10 million gays at the end of 2004, but some experts put the number at least 30 million.