It’s a depressing thought, but to a certain extent TV defines who we are as a society. Is the increase of gay characters on TV shows in the West a reflection of greater tolerance? Or is society more tolerant because of Glee, Modern Family, Queer as Folk and The L Word?

In China, like many countries, gay characters are banned from state administered TV, film and radio. For five years Beijing-based website Queer Comrades has been getting around the censors and broadcasting talk shows, news, documentaries and fiction on LGBT-related topics.