by Li You and Wang Xuandi

Eleven years after its inaugural event, Shanghai Pride has found itself at the end of the proverbial rainbow.

In a statement Thursday, the organizers of Shanghai Pride, the largest and longest-running Pride festival on the Chinese mainland, said they were “canceling all upcoming activities and taking a break from scheduling any future events.” The statement did not include a reason for the sudden move.

A Shanghai Pride source with knowledge of the matter told Sixth Tone that “the events we run are all within the guidelines,” without elaborating further.

A GIF depicting some of the events at Shanghai Pride 2020. From @上海骄傲节 on Weibo

Shanghai Pride’s cancellation announcement came weeks after the nonprofit organized a nine-day Pride festival in June, while many similar events scheduled to take place abroad were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, Shanghai Pride kicked off an art exhibition for LGBT artists and allies. That event will continue through Sept. 6, though the Shanghai Pride Film Festival and discussion panel events planned for later dates are likely now canceled.

The sudden shutdown has shocked many in the country’s LGBT community.

Matthew Huang, head of an LGBT rights nonprofit in the southwestern city of Chengdu, told Sixth Tone that Shanghai Pride is unique in the Chinese LGBT community as its impact is felt far beyond Shanghai.

“There is currently no other large-scale Pride Month event (on the Chinese mainland),” he said. “Some cities may do one this year but for whatever reason won’t do it the following year. Some (local festivals) may only last two or three years.” Read more via Sixth Tone