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A psychological consulting hotline for homosexual people has been crowded with calls since its launch in Shanghai last week. Organizers are now considering finding more volunteers to receive the calls -- more numerous than they anticipated. Our Shanghai correspondent Xiaoyu has the details.

Volunteers in Shanghai and Guangzhou have joined forces for "Tongzhi Hotline," advising homosexuals on psychological problems, legal issues and HIV/AIDS. Days and operating hours differ according to topic.

With the new nationwide hotline 800-988-1929 sponsored by the Hong Kong based Zhihang Foundation people from all over the country can call, free of charge, to speak to someone during the line's daily operating hours.

Though they expected the demand and thus response to be great, Rager Shen, who is in charge of the Shanghai branch, said the hotline has been extremely busy. They have to think of finding more volunteers so they can receive more calls.

"As we planned, we now have only one telephone line. Since calls come in one after another, our volunteers are too busy to take a rest. So, we are thinking of adding a line extension, which would allow 2 people to call in at the same time."

Under pressure from families and society, most homosexual people do not dare to reveal their sexual orientation or any related problems to others.

Here's Rager again. "Some of the people calling in ask about whether being gay is a disease and if there are places to go for detailed consulting. Others have married someone of the opposite sex and need some advice from us. And some just want to talk to some one else about their problems."

The hotline's Shanghai office has nearly 20 volunteers, all of whom are homosexual, working as consultants. Though many are calling to join them, Rager said they prefer people with the same sexual leanings to become part of their team.

"We first require that the consultants are very friendly to gay people and able to put themselves in their shoes. Of course good communication skills and relevant knowledge of law and medicine is desired. We prefer gay people to become our volunteers."

All the consultants have full-time jobs, and work for the hotline for free in their spare time.

According to a recent survey by Li Yinhe, a pioneering sociologist on sexual issues, the number of homosexual people on the mainland numbers about 48 million. However, the number and scope of services for this population is far from adequate.

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