CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
China's most prominent AIDS activist was released Friday after allegedly being held for nearly a month while state security agents investigated charges that he leaked official state secrets. Wan Yanhai, last seen leaving a gay and lesbian film festival August 25 in Beijing, said he was freed after he admitted that his publishing of a government report on the spread of AIDS in a central Chinese province had been a "mistake." Wan said he is in good health and was not abused while in custody, but he wouldn't say where he had been held or discuss the terms of his release. "It's not too convenient for me to say right now," Wan told the Associated Press. "However, nothing that has happened will affect my work." China never confirmed Wan's detention, but his disappearance elicited an outpouring of concern from friends, the media, and international health and human rights groups. Wan, a former Chinese health ministry official, founded the Aizhi Action Project in 1994 to fight discrimination against gays and people with AIDS. Last year he called attention to unsanitary blood-buying practices in the central province of Henan, which he alleged resulted in the infection of thousands of poverty-stricken villagers. Wan said he was investigated because he publicized and distributed a report on the state of AIDS in Henan, where health officials have been accused of attempting to cover up the reasons behind the spread of the disease. Wan said he was mailed the report anonymously and did not realize he was breaking laws by publishing it on the Internet. He wouldn't say whether he has been formally charged with a crime or has signed a confession, though he did say that he acknowledged making a mistake. During the period of his alleged detention, Wan was given an award by a Canadian health group for his work in fighting the spread of AIDS. His wife, Su Zhaosheng, accepted the award on his behalf. She lives in Los Angeles, where she is a student. Su told Agence France-Presse on Friday that she had spoken to her husband by telephone Thursday night. "He said that he will be back in America by the end of October," she said. "He also said he that he will be spending more time in America."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM