China:- Gay marriage ceremony in Chengdu

Though China doesn't legally recognise gay relationships, there's little doubt that this is going to become an increasingly important issue for the LGBT community as it grows in confidence.

47-year-old Zeng Ge and 27-year-old Xiao Pan went through an unofficial marriage ceremony - reportedly the first to be held in China -in a small bar in Chengdu earlier this month, and as well as the photos being circulated via sites like news163.com the event has also made the pages of China Daily. But as Zeng told reporters, the news hasn't gone down well with friends and family.

"All the capital in my company has been frozen by my younger brother," Zeng said in a dimly-it teahouse in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

"My sister warned me she would never call me her brother unless I break up with Pan; and I have answered hundreds of phone calls from friends and relatives, who say they feel ashamed of me.

"But we are deeply in love and will never desert each other,"