LGBT ACTIVISM IN CHINA Data on international ties among LGBT activists Political economy explanations suggest transnational linkages will emerge,in part, because of funds that flow from foreign donors to local activists.Like other NGOs in China,LGBT organizations,in general,enjoy high levels of international funding; leaders acknowledge that they would be unlikely to exist were it not for the financial support of international sources (almost all of which is designated for HIV/AIDS prevention efforts);but,this has not translated into strong ties with global civil society. In the survey,almost every LGBT NGO reported receiving at least some financial support from international sources (foreign governments,multinational corporations, or private foundations).Moreover,nearly 17%of gay groups reported that at least 65% of their budget came from these sources;lesbian organizations boasted slightly higher levels.For gay groups,these figures probably underestimate the actual proportion of operating funds drawn from international sources because many (53%)also report receiving monies from the Chinese government.21 In these cases,funds usually originate from foreign sources but are filtered through government agencies in Beijing and at local levels.If recipients are not fully aware of the source of financial support, bonds between the international community and activists presumed to develop naturally from funding relationships may not be as strong as expected. Quantitatively measuring the strength or weakness of these linkages is difficult and imprecise.However,to uncover general patterns,the survey asked a series of questions about an organization's interactions with international NGOs (INGOs). Gay organizations reported infrequent interaction with international groups.Nearly a third had either no or only rare interaction with INGOs;the modal response was 'once a year'given by 44%of groups.Nearly all of the lesbian groups reported rare or no interaction.For the sake of comparison,among environmental groups that responded to the survey,only 15%reported that they 'rarely'or 'never'interacted with INGOs, while HIV/AIDS organizations had a slightly higher 19%. Relying solely on quantitative measures risks obscuring a more complex truth about the relationship of LGBT activists in China and the intemational community. Interviews with activists reveal tension,competition,and distrust of global civil society. Many express open distaste for these groups,who sometimes 'act like big brothers rather than colleagues'.Representative of many activists interviewed,an NGO leader in Beijing grew agitated when recounting the story of an INGO that'tried to tell us what to do'without having 'proper understanding of the situation'.These groups attempt to control NGOs and,he notes,'even the government!'.Although he would rather 'go it alone',he has no choice but to continue limited interaction with INGOs;his funding depends upon cultivating ties with international groups,not severing them.22 Explanations for weak international linkages There are at least two compelling explanations for infrequent interaction and weak ties with global civil society.Although some predict LGBT activists will maintain strong 21.It is notable(although not surprising.given the HIV/AIDS focus of support)that no lesbian organizations reported receiving funds from the government.I discuss the implications of this in the final section of the article. 22.Interview.Beijing,18 December 2007. 849Data on international ties among LGBT activists Political economy explanations suggest transnational linkages will emerge, in part, because of funds that flow from foreign donors to local activists. Like other NGOs in China, LGBT organizations, in general, enjoy high levels of international funding; leaders acknowledge that they would be unlikely to exist were it not for the financial support of international sources (almost all of which is designated for HIV/AIDS prevention efforts); but, this has not translated into strong ties with global civil society. In the survey, almost every LGBT NGO reported receiving at least some financial support from international sources (foreign governments, multinational corporations, or private foundations). Moreover, nearly 17% of gay groups reported that at least 65% of their budget came from these sources; lesbian organizations boasted slightly higher levels. For gay groups, these figures probably underestimate the actual proportion of operating funds drawn from international sources because many (53%) also report receiving monies from the Chinese government.21 In these cases, funds usually originate from foreign sources but are filtered through government agencies in Beijing and at local levels. If recipients are not fully aware of the source of financial support, bonds between the international community and activists presumed to develop naturally from funding relationships may not be as strong as expected. Quantitatively measuring the strength or weakness of these linkages is difficult and imprecise. However, to uncover general patterns, the survey asked a series of questions about an organization’s interactions with international NGOs (INGOs). Gay organizations reported infrequent interaction with international groups. Nearly a third had either no or only rare interaction with INGOs; the modal response was ‘once a year’ given by 44% of groups. Nearly all of the lesbian groups reported rare or no interaction. For the sake of comparison, among environmental groups that responded to the survey, only 15% reported that they ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ interacted with INGOs, while HIV/AIDS organizations had a slightly higher 19%. Relying solely on quantitative measures risks obscuring a more complex truth about the relationship of LGBT activists in China and the international community. Interviews with activists reveal tension, competition, and distrust of global civil society. Many express open distaste for these groups, who sometimes ‘act like big brothers rather than colleagues’. Representative of many activists interviewed, an NGO leader in Beijing grew agitated when recounting the story of an INGO that ‘tried to tell us what to do’ without having ‘proper understanding of the situation’. These groups attempt to control NGOs and, he notes, ‘even the government!’. Although he would rather ‘go it alone’, he has no choice but to continue limited interaction with INGOs; his funding depends upon cultivating ties with international groups, not severing them.22 Explanations for weak international linkages There are at least two compelling explanations for infrequent interaction and weak ties with global civil society. Although some predict LGBT activists will maintain strong 21. It is notable (although not surprising, given the HIV/AIDS focus of support) that no lesbian organizations reported receiving funds from the government. I discuss the implications of this in the final section of the article. 22. Interview, Beijing, 18 December 2007. LGBT ACTIVISM IN CHINA 849