Although I do not support the censorship of any kind, but I do not agree with the writer that this was a missed opportunity to give "hope" to gays in that part of the world especially when messengers of hope were white guys. In most Asian countries homosexuality is still regarded as "white" phenomenon. So, having white gay or straight people promoting the equality for gays especially in that part of world does not fly.

Even in the US gay people of color are missing from the images in the gay media as well as from most gay organizations which makes it hard for people of color communities to connect with gay issues and ofcourse put LGBT persons of color in a unique place where they get neglected in both gay as well as their own communities.

The strategy of putting "white" faces on gay issues has even failed in the US among people of color comminities. Perhaps it is time for white gay leadership to wake up especially after prop 8 (which is also a loss for gay people of color) but then racism has been hushed in the gay community for so long. Nearly all gay orgs actively promote leadership of gay white people who have been the primary beneficiaries of gay movement. The gatherings or meetings of gay community look like republican convention with few people of color tokens thrown in the mix. May be we should first work towards inclusion and "equality" of gay people of color with in the gay rights movement in the US before we try to give "hope" to people in other parts of the world.

I agree with you about the need to reach out to LGBT youth of all colors.

But, I take issue with your position that western white gay folks can spread the message of liberation or equality to other parts of the world especially developing countires many of which have a history of colonization. Many LGBT groups operate in those parts of the world in the face of adversity. Those issues are much more complex and broader then a missed televised advocacy from the west on gay issues.

My point is that gay asians do not need "hope" from the western white white community (or straight) which has avoided any discussion of racism within their own community and have marginalized LGBT people of color. Human rights start at home.

Again, we all know that how gay whites have benefitted from the good old boy type networks which operate in Castro or Chelsea or Fire Island and interestingly many of these networks fund gay white orgs. The face of the US is changing and it would benefit all of us (queers of all colors) to reflect those changing realities.

With all due respect, unfortunately, what you think is a message of "hope" or "equality" is through the lens of white westerners and most likey will be considered as having a ring of imperalistic attitude and may actually hurt the cause of gay people in other countries rather then help it.

Many people in Asia have a different view of sexuality. Many don't even identify as "gay" or "lesbian" or in other words the notion of sexuality from the west can not be imported in same terms to other cultures. For example, gay marriage is not a priority even within the LGBT people of color communities in the west let alone for gay people in Asia who are just busy struggling to survive. In the past, attempts of feminists from the west to impose the concept of western feminism miserably failed in Asian countries. Even in this globally connected world those counrties have preserved their own cultures.

But, my point again is how can you preach the message of equality to other countries/cultures when you can not even discuss or implement human rights (blatant and widespread racism within the LGBT movement) at home and in your own communities?

In the west, LGBT people of color are totally invisible and you even have whites dominating the organizations which are supposed to work on people of color issues or in other words whites imposing their own understanding of issues on other communities. That approach has failed in reaching out to black, latin and asian groups in the US and we all paid a price with prop 8 and perhaps other defeats to come in the future.

In international context you can't appoint white westerners as messengers or leaders to preach gay rights. People in other countries would reject such a position as it is a reminder of that dark history of colonization by whites and it would only hurt struggling gay masses in the east.

Figures...its called homophobia...and most likely many are on the downlow.

Amen Bro (and, yes.... I am white... well I am Italian and live in the south, so I guess not)