POST
PRODUCTION
SCRIPT
FOREIGN
CORRESPONDENT
2017
The
Love Boat
27
mins 50 secs
©2017
ABC
Ultimo Centre
700
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Box 9994
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Precis
|
While Australia says ‘yes’, the country with more
gay people than most says an implacable ‘no’. But in China, a determined
group of young men and women just won’t take no for an answer, as Matthew
Carney reports. |
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Shanghai has seen thousands of cruise ships come and
go, but perhaps never one like this. |
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About 800 special invitees are piling aboard the
ship to witness the marriages of nine LGBT couples in a brazen statement
against China’s law and traditional family values. |
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It’s a milestone in Chinese history – Duan, one of the cruise organisers |
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Duan’s plan is to stage the weddings once the cruise
ship gets into international waters, beyond the reach of authorities. |
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ABC China correspondent Matthew Carney is on board
to see if Duan can pull it off. Lately officials have been shutting down gay
rights gatherings all over China. But Duan is determined to make it happen. |
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It makes us feel super excited. We feel we’re part
of a big family – Duan |
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The big family that Duan wants to strike a blow for
is China’s estimated 70 million gays and lesbians. Same sex couples can’t get
insurance, health care or pensions or own a home or adopt a child. Not only
laws and officialdom stand in their way. Deep-rooted culture is equally
unbending. Many Chinese see homosexuality as a sickness curable by treatments
like electro-shock therapy. |
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Chinese tradition is to pass on our genes to the
next generation. People will speak badly of us –
father of Jesse, who was born a girl but now identifies as a man. |
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Jesse’s mum and dad are aboard the ship but they
have no idea what’s ahead of them. They thought they were having a family
holiday. Jesse hopes the cruise will help them understand him. |
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They’re afraid of losing face, but their acceptance
means a lot to me - Jesse |
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Parental pressure is so great that as many as 20
million LGBT couples are in sham marriages. Duan and long-time partner Li
both married women to appease their parents. |
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It was like being in jail. That kind of life was
really torture for me – Duan |
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Lesbians Xianxian and Tiantian each married a gay
man. Now they’ve signed on for the cruise so they can marry each other. |
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Xianxian is the most beautiful bride – Tiantian |
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But there’s a hitch. Even though shipboard marriages
have no legal standing in China, authorities are edgy about this “immoral”
cruise and the defiance it represents. They move to stop the ship
sailing, threatening to blow up months of planning by Duan and his friends. |
|
Cruise
boat on Shanghai Harbour. GFX: THE LOVE BOAT |
Music |
00:00 |
Passengers
board cruise boat |
|
00:05 |
Carney
board cruise boat. GFX: |
|
00:14 |
Passengers
on board boat |
MATTHEW CARNEY: It’s a cruise with a difference and we almost didn’t
make it on board. We’re going to spend the next week with 800 others
getting a crash course on sexuality in China. |
00:19 |
|
And at the end of it all, there’ll be an act of mass civil
disobedience. Nine same sex couples are going to get married.
They’ll be defying the law, Chinese conventions, and in some cases – their
families. |
00:36 |
|
Some of these parents don’t know that their kids are gay, and we don’t
even know if we’ll be allowed to leave the port. |
00:58 |
Carney
to camera |
[on board ship] “For the last week it’s been touch and go. The
organisers have been nervous that the Chinese authorities are going to shut
this down. Lately, they’ve been closing gay rights meetings and seminars all
over China, but this one is set to be one of the biggest”. |
01:08 |
|
Music |
01:25 |
Duan
an partner on boat |
MATTHEW CARNEY: On this journey we’re going to meet people who are
taking great risks to tell us their stories. Duan and his partner Li,
the Shanghai power couple behind the cruise. |
01:31 |
Duan
and Li |
DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “It’s a milestone in Chinese history”. |
01:45 |
Apartment
blocks |
|
01:48 |
Xianxian and Tiantian walk down street |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Xianxian and Tiantian, who both suffered in one
of China’s 20 million sham marriages. |
01:51 |
Cruise
ship on boat |
Music |
02:02 |
Jesse
and parents take selfie |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Jesse, born a girl but now living as a man, and |
02:04 |
Parents
at seminar |
the parents who struggle to accept their kids in this deeply
conservative society. HUANG MAMA: [subtitle] “My son is a very strong and good girl”. |
02:11 |
Cruise
boat at sunset |
Music |
02:22 |
Duan
driving |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Cruise organiser is Duan Rongfeng. We first met him in
downtown Shanghai making last minute preparations. The gays and
lesbians who make it in this city tend to be rich and educated. Duan
runs a successful advertising agency and is also |
02:29 |
Duan
and Li open parcel and look at rings |
a prominent activist. DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “What’s this?” LI: [subtitle] ”Rings!” DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “Wow!” LI: [subtitle] “Let’s take a look. Wow, they’re diamond rings”. DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “It’s Jiajun’s. I want to take a photo
for him. No, we should make it a surprise”. LI: [subtitle] “It’s a bigger diamond than mine.” MATTHEW CARNEY: Duan and Li have been together for 13 years,
after meeting on the internet. |
02:54 |
Li
cooking |
LI: [subtitle] “In China, the biggest challenge for us is to come out
of the closet, mainly to our families and parents. Everyone in China
wants a family. |
03:24 |
Li
interview |
When we realise we’re gay, we think we have to choose between our
parents and our families. You can’t have both. Either you leave
your parents for your partner, or you choose your parents but have a secret
love and never let your parents find out. It really hurts”. |
03:43 |
Duan
and Li at home |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Duan and Li lived together for 10 long years in secret
before finally telling their parents the truth. |
04:08 |
|
LI: [subtitle] “I told my mum that Duan was great and what we really
wanted was our happiness. Why care about his or her gender? |
04:21 |
Li
interview |
So long as he treats me well, we’re happy together. I took Duan to my
relatives during these ten years and everyone could see he was a good guy”. |
04:28 |
Archival.
Duan and Li marriage ceremony |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Two years ago they had to travel to America to
get married. In China, marriage is still defined as a union between a
man and a woman. Same sex activity was only decriminalised in
1997. |
04:35 |
|
DUAN [subtitle] “Put the ring on your finger. I hope you become
my life partner”. |
05:02 |
Duan
and Li at home |
MATTHEW CARNEY: As a same sex couple, Duan and Li can’t get insurance,
health care, pensions, own a home or adopt a child. They’re hoping the
cruise and the mass wedding will help start a conversation about
homosexuality in a society that doesn’t want to address the issue. |
05:14 |
Duan
interview |
DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “Fear comes from ignorance, whether you’re
talking about society or the individual. When you learn more, you won’t feel
so frightened”. |
05:41 |
Shanghai
view. Night |
|
05:51 |
|
MATTHEW CARNEY: It’s no surprise that the cruise is starting off in
Shanghai, the most cosmopolitan city in China. |
05:55 |
Shanghai
bar |
Many of the country’s 70 million gays and lesbians live here. Attitudes
are pretty liberal, and it’s easy to be anonymous. It’s a very
different story in the provinces. |
06:01 |
Lian Yungang apartment blocks |
Away from the centres of urban elites, China is still a deeply
conservative society where conformity is valued. |
06:24 |
Xianxian and Tiantian walk down street |
It takes courage to step outside the norm. Xianxian and Tiantian
live in Lian Yungang, a city in north eastern China |
06:36 |
|
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “One more hug?” TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “Come on! I’m exhausted!” You’re
annoying me, let’s go”. XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “Where shall we go?” TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “Give me a kiss”. |
06:49 |
Food market |
Music |
07:09 |
Xianxian and Tiantian at market |
TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “Come on,
give me a big smile. Oh my goodness, I almost fell over stepping on
that!” XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “It’d be funny if you fell. It would be
filmed”. TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “No, it wouldn’t. They’d cut it out”. |
07:19 |
|
MATTHEW CARNEY: The women are already living openly as a couple,
despite the disapproval of their families. Now they want to get married
and have signed up to Duan and Li’s cruise. The marriage won’t be legal
in China, but the couple see it as a first step towards wider acceptance. TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “It’s not easy for lesbians to live in this city. |
07:36 |
Tiantian
interview |
Lianyungang is not a big city, and most people here still think in a
very old fashioned way. |
08:03 |
Xianxian and Tiantian at market |
[at the market] “Just take a small bite. Bit by bit, not a big
bite”. XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “It’s too hot”. |
08:08 |
Tiantian
interview |
TIANTIAN: [subtitle} “I just do what I want to do. Why should I
care what other people think?” |
08:16 |
Xianxian
interview |
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “I ignore them. They don’t understand us. I
don’t need them to understand, because they’re not loved ones”. |
08:21 |
Xianxian and Tiantian eat at table/Market shots |
MATTHEW CARNEY: In many parts of China there’s a persistent belief
that homosexuality is a disease that can be cured. Electro-shock therapy is
still a common way to treat gay people here, even though it was officially
outlawed three years ago. |
08:26 |
Xianxian and Tiantian at market |
The stigma and family shame around not marrying and having children,
leads many gays to enter sham marriages. It’s believed there are 20
million couples living this way in China. |
08:48 |
Xianxian and Tiantian wedding photos |
Music |
09:01 |
|
MATTHEW CARNEY: Xianxian and
Tiantian each had one. They both married gay men so they could all
continue their relationships in secret. |
09:06 |
Xianxian
interview/Wedding photo |
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “When I saw my mother crying on my wedding day, I
felt very guilty. I knew I lied to them. I felt sorry for them
because they had done so much for me. I don’t want to lie anymore
because you have to make up more lies to cover one. I got very tired of
lying to them”. |
09:23 |
Tiantian
wedding photo |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Tiantian said she too just couldn’t continue the
deception – it just wasn’t her. The marriage ended only after a year
and they both finally came out. But their parents still refuse to
accept them for who they are. |
09:44 |
Li
interview |
LI: [subtitle] “For some, a fake marriage is a good way to deal with
the problem of parents, and the questions from society, while making space for
the one we love. But it turns out nothing can be fixed with a fake marriage”. |
10:05 |
Photos.
Duan and Li |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Duan and Li, the couple from Shanghai, also had
fake marriages that ended badly. |
10:25 |
|
LI: [subtitle] “It was like being in jail. |
10:36 |
Li
interview |
I couldn’t put up my photos or show any hint of us. That kind of life
was really torture for me. |
10:41 |
Photos.
Duan and Li |
One day, Lao Duan’s mother arrived unexpectedly and I was asleep on
the bed. I had to cover myself with the quilt and lie still. We
couldn’t let our parents see that. |
10:53 |
Li
interview |
Our life was filled with misunderstandings. A sham marriage is a
beautiful fantasy for the gay couples who don’t have the courage to come out
of the closet. But when they step into one, it turns out to be a
terrible nightmare”. |
11:07 |
Cruise
boat |
|
11:27 |
Xianxian and Tiantian on board boat |
MATTHEW CARNEY: The day of the cruise has finally arrived. |
11:31 |
|
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “I feel really excited”. TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “This excitement is deep in my heart. It’s
hard to show. I do not know how to show it”. |
11:37 |
Duan
and Li in cabin |
MATTHEW CARNEY: But the authorities are trying to prevent the ship
from leaving Shanghai, citing what they call immoral behaviour. Months
of planning is at stake. |
11:48 |
Passengers
on board taking photos |
So, they take a risk. The boat leaves early before the official
time, as authorities back on shore debate what to do. |
12:01 |
Li
in cabin |
LI: [subtitle] “I am finally on the sea. Tonight we’ll have a
singles party. Tomorrow, we’ll have the conference and wedding.
It’s so exciting”. |
12:13 |
Jesse
in cabin with parents |
MATTHEW CARNEY: The next morning Jesse Peng and his parents get ready
for the day. Jesse is the official photographer on the trip. He
was born a girl but now identifies as a man. His parents are finding it
hard to deal with. |
12:33 |
Jesse
interview |
JESSE PENG: [subtitle] “I think for now my parents half and half
accept me. On one hand, they accept that I like girls. But on the
other hand, they want me to find a boy and get married”. |
12:53 |
Jesse
in ship’s lounge with parents |
MATTHEW CARNEY: The family comes from Jiangxi, a very conservative
part of China. |
13:21 |
Jesse’s
mum interview |
JESSE’S MUM: [subtitle] “You didn’t tell us the truth before we got on
the cruise”. |
13:29 |
Jesse
takes photos |
MATTHEW CARNEY: They thought they were having a simple family holiday. |
13:38 |
Jesse’s
mum interview |
JESSE’S MUM: [subtitle] “Frankly, I didn’t know what this was going to
be about until I got here. The night before we came, she sent us a
message. Then I understood. My husband said we didn’t have a choice, we had
to come”. |
13:41 |
Jesse’s
dad interview |
JESSE’S DAD: [subtitle] “Given the situation in China at the moment,
we feel really stressed. It’s put a lot of pressure on us. If
other people in our village knew that we were coming to this event, we’d feel
very uncomfortable”. |
13:57 |
Seminar day. Chenggong Baba at microphone |
MATTHEW CARNEY: The first day is devoted to parents sharing their
stories. Chenggong Baba is a steelworker from northern China. |
14:24 |
|
CHENGGONG BABA: [subtitle] “He told me he was gay on 1st November
2016. I felt surprised and hopeless. He was different from normal
people. I was so angry, I smoked five packs of cigarettes.
One by one, non-stop, in our two hour conversation. I told him to
change. But he told me it was impossible to change sexual orientation,
whether you’re normal or LGBT. It was the first time I’d heard this
word. I asked him if he had forgotten what I, his father, do. I
work for the steel industry. I can make all steel straight, no matter
what it looks like and how bent it is. He said he wasn’t steel and I
couldn’t make him straight”. |
14:36 |
Huang
Mama and daughter on stage |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Huang Mama and her daughter are telling their story
for the first time. Huang Mama is a farmer’s wife from Henan, one of
the poorest provinces in China. She didn’t go to school |
15:44 |
|
so she can’t read or write. It’s the first time she’s left her
village. DAUGHTER: [subtitle] “Though she’s poor, my mother gave me a strong
character”. HUANG MAMA: [subtitle] “My son is a very strong and good girl. |
15:56 |
|
I had my family but it was very hard. My husband was useless.
Others bulled us. So I had to be strong. I supported my
family. I made 10 yuan ($2) a day. I never gave my children a
happy time. |
16:18 |
|
But now I support my daughter. I’ll support her in doing what
she wants. I won’t be happy unless you’re happy. I hope Yunyun
and you live happily together into old age”. |
17:01 |
Jesse
and parents in lounge |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Four hours of this is confronting for Jesse’s
parents. |
17:30 |
Jesse’s
father |
JESSE’S FATHER: [subtitle] “We’re from a small village and people have
different views on homosexuality. We face a lot of pressure from our
relatives and friends. It’s really stressful. In our daily life
we’re faced with other people’s criticism and stigma. That won’t change
whether we attend this meeting or not. Because it is normal for people
to marry and have children. This is our traditional idea. So it’s hard
for us to accept it”. |
17:38 |
|
JESSE’S MOTHER: [subtitle] “We understand that it is very hard for her
and she is upset, too. Until this, I’d never thought that we might come
across homosexuality”. |
18:21 |
Jesse’s
parents in counselling session |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Later in the day they have a counselling session. Duan
is leading the group and is helped by Li’s mum and another father who are
volunteer counsellors on the cruise. |
18:38 |
|
JESSE’S MOTHER: “I heard they can be changed back?” BO’S FATHER: [subtitle] “There’s no case I the world where they can
change back”. |
18:53 |
|
DUAN RONGFENG: “Of course you will have pressure. You have
pressure if your kid can’t go to university, if your kid can’t find a
job. You feel embarrassed in front of relatives because of all sorts of
pressure. Gay marriage is legal now all over the U.S. The
situation is improving all the time”. |
18:56 |
Parents
in counselling session |
JESSE’S FATHER: [subtitle] “Chinese tradition is carrying our genes to
the next generation. In our country, people will speak badly of us, for
sure”. |
19:12 |
|
BO’S FATHER: [subtitle] “What to do? Our kids have so much pain,
so much pressure. Society discriminates against them. As parents
we need to stand up and speak out for them and let our kids grow in the
sunshine. If you don’t stand up, I don’t stand up, our kids will
suffer. Our kids care so much about what we think of them. Kids
hope so much their parents can accept them”. |
19:24 |
Parents
shake hands |
MATTHEW CARNEY: By the end of the session it seems Jesse’s
parents are at least open to the idea. JESSE’S DAD: [subtitle] “We can’t change anything. Let them
be. As parents, we can’t do anything. Okay, but it’s impossible
for us to change our attitude right away”. BO’S FATHER: [subtitle] “If you changed immediately, it wouldn’t be
normal. Take it slowly, digest it. Listen more and learn
more. Take a rest”. |
20:03 |
Jesse
interview |
JESSE PENG: [subtitle] “They are afraid of losing face in front of
relatives and friends, if they find out the truth. But the fact is a lot of
their relatives and friends already know. They just haven’t told my parents
they know. For us, family matters a lot. Their acceptance means a lot
to me”. |
20:33 |
Ship
on ocean |
Music |
20:53 |
|
MATTHEW CARNEY: As the ship steams into the East China Sea, the
wedding couples are getting ready |
21:01 |
Xianxian having make up done |
in separate cabins. Xianxian
is about to walk down the aisle for the second time. This time though it will
be to marry the woman she loves and not a man she’s pretending to. |
21:06 |
Xianxian interview |
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “I’m nervous because I don’t know what to say on
stage. I’m happy because it’s my wish to marry her”. |
21:20 |
Tiantian
dressing in cabin |
TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “I feel like I’m in a dream. I’m really
looking forward to seeing Xianxian beautifully dressed. |
21:35 |
Tiantian
interview |
I think she will be the most beautiful bride”. |
21:45 |
Ship
on ocean |
Music |
21:52 |
Couples
ready for weddings |
|
21:57 |
|
MATTHEW CARNEY: We’ve reached international waters, out of range
of the police. |
22:04 |
Xianxian
and Tiantian marriage vows |
The nine couples can finally marry. XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “Make money to support us and I’ll remain a
beautiful flower”. TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “I’m glad I’m with you in this beautiful
moment. I’d like to hold your hand and grow old together. I love
you. |
22:08 |
Xianxian
and Tiantian exchange of rings/Celebrations |
[ceremony] Yes I do. Do
you love me? Do you marry me?” [Xianxian nods yes] |
22:31 |
|
MASTER OF CEREMONY: “It’s a pleasure to be here, and I am so
happy. I hope the nine new couples stay together forever, and have a
harmonious union lasting for a hundred years”. |
22:43 |
Xianxian
and Tiantian after ceremony |
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “I’m very happy. But when I saw other
parents on the stage, I missed my mother”. TIANTIAN: [subtitle] “It’s a bit sad our parents aren’t here”. XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “Yes, a bit sad”. |
23:25 |
Dancing
and celebration |
MATTHEW CARNEY: The marriages have no legal standing, but for
Duan they’re a powerful statement. |
23:34 |
Duan
interview |
DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “It is a milestone in Chinese history.
A Chinese traditional gay wedding. It makes me super excited. We
feel like we’re one big family”. |
23:46 |
Li
interview |
LI: [subtitle] “I think it’s the start of happiness for them. We had a
Western style wedding and I saw them have a traditional wedding. I
prefer the Chinese style. I actually really liked this wedding”. DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “Get married again”. LI: “Maybe because I am Chinese, I like the ceremony with the
cross-cupped wine, and the parent’s presentation, Chinese vows, the
embroidered wedding robe. I got goose bumps. I felt very moved even
though I’m already married”. |
23:58 |
Couples
disembark in Japan and sightsee |
Music |
24:36 |
|
MATTHEW CARNEY: The next day the ship stops in Japan.
Xianxian and Tiantian are contemplating the future and breaking another
taboo. |
24:46 |
|
XIANXIAN: [subtitle] “When we settle down and Tiantian wants to make
our family perfect, |
25:01 |
Xianxian
interview |
I think I will have a baby for her”. |
25:08 |
Jesse
and parents take selfie on boat |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Jesse isn’t at that point yet and neither are
his parents, but he feels there’s been a shift. |
25:19 |
Jesse
interview |
JESSE: [subtitle] “During this trip, they’ve changed a lot, I feel
they’ve changed. They have taken part in the activities, heard the
stories of other parents, and see the attitudes of other parents. These
are important things to change them”. JESSE’S MOTHER: [subtitle] “I feel I know a bit more about Jesse”. |
25:30 |
Jesse’s
parents |
JESSE’S FATHER: [subtitle] “It’s not easy for young people.
After all, she is my daughter. I hope Jesse can be happy. As parents,
as long as she’s happy, we’re satisfied”. |
25:52 |
Jesse
sets up group photo |
JESSE PENG: [subtitle] “I wish they could see this simply as me being
allowed to marry who I want. It’s just a normal love affair.
We’re born this way and can’t change”. |
26:11 |
Ship
on ocean/Passengers relaxing on board |
Music |
26:33 |
Duan
and Li on board. They hug |
MATTHEW CARNEY: Duan is optimistic enough to think that same sex
marriage could become legal in China within a decade. But for that to
happen, there has to be a big shift in public attitudes. DUAN RONGFENG: [subtitle] “The ultimate goal is to change society, and
help us live freely and equally under the law. |
26:41 |
Duan
interview |
But before we can do that, we need to speak out, and make more people
aware of us, and empower more gay people to stand up”. |
27:10 |
Ship
at sunset |
Music |
27:26 |
Credits |
Reporter -
Matthew Carney abc.net.au/foreign © 2017 |
27:30 |
Out
point after credits |
|
27:50 |