First national
hotline for gays launched in China

Just months after China's gay population became the focus of a study for the first time in its history, 13 volunteers have opened up the country's first national gay hotline. The Information Times reports that the hotline will provide psychological and legal services as well as HIV consultation and will be staffed by people with backgrounds in law, psychology, and medicine. The hotline's sponsor, the Hong Kong-based Chi Heng Foundation, has run two previous local hotlines providing similar services. Unlike the local hotlines, however, the new service offers a toll-free number and will be staffed seven days a week. Organizers say that no personal information will be required from callers and that the privacy of the calls will be carefully guarded. (Sirius OutQ News)