High price of being a ‘money boy’ (4)

"Regardless of whether they are sex workers or not, any man can be questioned by the police in those areas. It's humiliating," said Liu Yige, 25, a legal aid worker with Beijing Aizhixing Institute, an NGO providing legal consultation and support to the gay community and MBs.

According to a previous report of the Global Times, in September 2010, Mudanyuan was raided by local police, with several visitors arrested. Beijing police said that the crackdown was a "routine check" ahead of a major holiday rather than taking action against some special group.

Two years ago, Xiao was held by police for one week after being charged with prostitution. At first when Xiao didn't admit to being an MB, he was beaten up by police. Upon his release, he was again arrested due to police entrapment and this time charged with drug possession. Many other MBs have had similar experiences, Zhu said.

"In 2011, more than 60 violent attacks against MBs in Beijing were reported to us. They involved both police brutality and violence from clients. Attacks included robbery, rape and assault and battery, with 30 MBs injured and one killed," Guo said.

The death occurred in September last year when police raided an apartment at a residential compound where more than a dozen MBs and their clients were using crystal methamphetamine. As the group fled police, an MB fell off a building, dying hours later from severe head injuries.

The case is hardly isolated in Beijing. This year there have been at least five incidents allegedly involving police injustice against male sex workers, according to BZICC.

When Metro Beijing confronted police with such allegations, a spokesman said he "could not confirm" whether such violence had occurred.

"Every citizen has the right to personal safety and health, no matter what they do or the legality of their job," Liu noted.

Eradicating discrimination toward male sex workers within the police is critical, he said.

Living a 'tiring' lifestyle

Xiao's run-ins with the law led him to reflect on his job while in custody, particularly whether it was worth the trouble it brings. After some soul-searching, he resolved to "find a legitimate job and be a good person" after he was released.

"But I wanted to make money, so I took the old shortcut again of being an MB," he explained, noting he planned to "switch jobs" next year.

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