a transsexual.55 There was some public support for Jin Xing, but no overturn of the
decision.56
Some talent shows have also promoted discussion of gender diversity. In 2005, gender
ambiguous Super Girl57 winner Li Yuchun gained widespread popularity, and some
scholars regarded this as a victory for transgender people.58 In 2010, contestants in the
Super Boy59 talent contest included a man who cross-dressed as a female named Liu
Zhu. In spite of lighting up the stage with his well-received performance, he didn’t make
it to the finals. Reportedly, the SARFT had handed down an order to the producers of
the program that a gender ambiguous contestant could not be chosen as the winner.60
Information reported in the news revealed that SARFT had prescribed three conditions
in order for Liu Zhu to enter the finals: learn to dress and look like a man; avoid showing
any “feminine” gestures or behavior or sexual orientation, and win the support of at
least 70 percent of the audience.61
In contrast to the official ban, Liu Zhu was not greatly censured by the public or media.
Rather, the contest adjudicator Annie Rose (Anni Meigui) was universally criticized
for repeatedly interrupting Liu Zhu’s performance.62 The Liu Zhu incident and media
attention greatly facilitated the mainstreaming of the concept of gender identity in
China and enabled increased profiles for transgender individuals in Chinese popular
entertainment.63
However, in 2011 the Southwest University Student News Service survey and res