Li Yinhe is a sociologist, sexologist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and an activist for LGBT rights. Her main academic interests have been sexual norms in contemporary China, homosexuality, diverse sexual behaviors including sadomasochism, and women’s studies. Li has been active in calling for greater tolerance for nonconventional sexual activities in China. She thinks the country is undergoing a de facto sexual revolution and encourages people to re-examine traditional attitudes towards sexual promiscuity and homosexuality. She proposes decriminalization of orgies and prostitution (both currently illegal in China). She also believes that monogamy is a personal decision made between a couple, and should not be enforced by law or social pressure. As a member of the national committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Li had submitted proposals to legalize same-sex marriages in 2003, 2005 and 2006. None have succeeded so far. She was a keynote speaker at the 2006 International Conference on LGBT Human Rights in Montreal. Li also publicly speaks about other issues of social justice, such as the growing urban-rural divide in China.
