Beijing ( CNN ) In this narrow Beijing hutong , the rainbow flag flies free . I 'm in Two Cities Cafe , a popular meeting place for the local gay community . Here , I meet with some of the country 's leading LGBT ( lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender ) advocates to learn about gay identity in China . In the last two decades , China 's LGBT community has made huge gains in social acceptance . Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997 , and a few years later it was removed from an official list of mental illnesses . But unlike their counterparts in the West , China 's LGBT community does not have to face down strident political opposition or right-wing religious uproar . For them , the biggest source of pressure comes from the family , brought on in part by China 's one-child policy . `` You have only one child so you want your child to be as 'normal ' as everybody else , '' says Xiaogang Wei , Executive Director of the Beijing Gender Health Education Institute . `` There 's also the pressure of carrying on the family line , '' adds Chi Heng Foundation founder Chung To . Fake marriages ? Many Chinese gays and lesbians are responding to the family pressure with `` cooperative marriages '' -- gay men and lesbian women marrying each other out of social and economic convenience , often finding each other online . `` I grew up in the 80s and 90s and most of the people my age , everyone , got into marriage -- no matter gay or straight , '' says Xu Bin , founder of the advocacy group Common Language . `` If you 're not , you 're a monster . '' Despite advances , the social stigma remains immense . According to a 2013 survey by U.S. research group Pew , only 21 % of China 's population was in favor of the acceptance of homosexuality . Same-sex marriage remains a taboo topic for many across China . And a number of clinics in China offer so-called `` conversion '' shock treatment to `` cure '' homosexuality . Earlier this year , a Beijing court heard China 's first case to challenge the treatment . But a delay in the ruling has raised concerns in the gay community that clinics may continue to provide such treatments without challenge . Discrimination . China 's LGBT professionals must also contend with a lack of legal protection against discrimination at work . `` The job discrimination is very subtle and you might not get a promotion because you are single . You might get fired because of all kinds of reasons , '' says To . `` There 's no protection . '' Though China has a long way to go before its gay professionals thrive professionally in all workplaces , Chinese gay activists are encouraged by the recent announcement by Apple CEO Tim Cook . `` I think Tim Cook 's coming out of the closet is very important to the Chinese society , especially in the business world , '' Wei tells me . `` It also very effectively motivated people into thinking about the direct and non-direct connections between homosexual people and the products that we all use in our lives . '' New generation . With these forces for change coming from both outside and inside China , the country 's LGBT community is forging ahead , despite its unique set of challenges . `` For the past ten years , the most change probably came from the visibility of the LGBT community in Chinese society . For the next ten years , I would say it 's the visibility of LGBT rights in China , '' says Xu . As the focus shifts to a stronger call for greater rights , China 's pioneering gay activists are looking to the younger generation to pick up the mantle . `` This generation is a lot more confident and self-assertive , '' To tells me . `` And they have more resources , '' adds Xu . `` In the end , I think we 're fighting not just for a better situation for LGBT ( people ) , but a better situation for all minorities and vulnerable people , '' says To . Out and proud , China 's gay activists are an increasingly vocal minority pushing for change that could very well reach every corner of Chinese society .
China 's LGBT community has made huge gains in social media . Unlike Western counterparts , they face little religious persecution . The biggest source of support comes from China , and the one - child policy . There is no legal protection in the first instance for the LGBT community .