'They said they had really wanted to reach the gay community,' Mr Ma told AFP, 'but they didn't have the channels and didn't know how to find them. Mr Ma said he was pleasantly surprised by the response he received after sounding out health officials to cooperate on HIV prevention campaigns. It also works with local authorities to direct users to free testing centres. That includes its efforts to tackle the stigma around HIV that has fuelled discrimination against gay men and prevented people from seeking medical care.īlueCity runs an online platform that sells HIV diagnostic kits and brokers consultations with doctors. It has opted for a cautious approach in raising mainstream awareness and tolerance of the LGBTQ community. Working for toleranceĭiscussion of LGBTQ issues remains contentious in China, with activists complaining of tightened restrictions on public discussion in recent years.īut despite being repeatedly shut down in the first few years of its existence, Blued has largely avoided conflict with the authorities. FindAsianBeauty free to join platform DateAsianWoman one of the top Asian dating apps AsianBeautyOnline top dating site in China for matches.
Like other dating apps, many Blued users are seeking hook-ups and casual dates.īut Mr Ma also keeps a stack of letters on his desk from users who have written to thank him for helping connect them to their long-term partners. It has yet to turn a profit, but company figures show losses have narrowed since the platform began paid memberships, live streams and ads in 2016.
