Celebrities and other figures of authority are increasingly using networking sites such as Weibo, Twitter and Facebook as a tool to voice their opinions, whip up public interest and maintain a fan base. There is absolutely no regulation of such sites, and people, as Lu Liping proved, are basically free to say what they want. China has recently been under scrutiny and part of a turbulent debate about its attitude towards freedom of speech, with some critics believing it to be 'draconian'. The online world was rocked last year when Google announced that China should stop censoring internet searches or risk a pull-out by the American company. Whilst China's stanch line on freedom of speech may, for many, undermine the 'liberating' world of the internet, Lu Liping's 'childish' homophobic messages to her once adoring set of followers, highlights the unrestricted nature of the World Wide Web and in particular micro blogs, which, as Mrs Liping has proven, can be highly damaging.

Amidst the barrage of responses Lu Liping's anti-gay remarks ignited, a Chinese priest called Feng Wei became involved in the heated discussion.

"Last night, the New York State Senate legalised same-sex marriage. This is the sixth state in the US, and the largest one so far, to do so. May God have mercy on this land which is falling into depravity every day! Even if some day, the law makes it illegal for me to speak against homosexuality, I will continue to preach. Homosexuality is a sin. God loves sinners, but he hates sin! Believe in Jesus, gain victory over your sin, and move from Death to Life," wrote the priest in response to Miss Liping's comments.

Within this obsolete rant, Priest Feng Wei manages to make a valid and interesting point when he said, "Even if some day, the law makes it illegal for me to speak against homosexuality." Same-sex marriage is currently carried out throughout ten countries in the world: Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, South Africa and Iceland. Six US states have already passed legislation to allow same-sex marriages, the most recent, as Feng Wei pointed out, being New York. Whilst the debate of legalizing same-sex marriage, like the issue of homosexuality itself, continues to survive, as we creep into the 21st century, same-sex marriages and an 'acceptance' of homosexual couples is becoming increasingly prevalent in societies around the world. Whilst the approval of homosexuality is on the increase, the condemning of the gay community is on the decrease, and whilst the priest's comments about there being a law making it illegal to speak against homosexuality may sound absurd and derisory, the implementation of such a law would actually be much more progressive than celebrities, figures of authority or anyone for that matter, publically denouncing gays as 'shameful' and 'sinners'.

Micro blogging celebrities should reflect and learn from the strong barrage of criticism Lu Liping's cruel and antiquated remarks have received, as although the actress may have gained the publicity such individual's so desperately yearn and made herself a known name in the west, I certainly won't be watching any of her movies.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.h5a3.com/opinion/node_7077604.htm

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