State press splashed a front-page photo of Chinas first publicly married gay couple the latest sign of new openness about homosexuality in a country where it has long been taboo.

The news featured a photograph of the newlyweds arm-in-arm during a January 3 ceremony . Zeng Anquan, 45, and Pan Wenjie, 27, tied the knot at a gay bar in the southwestern city of Chengdu, the paper said, calling it the first such public event in the country .

Homosexuality remains a sensitive issue in China. It was officially considered a form of mental illness as recently as 2001. Same-sex marriages or civil unions have no legal basis.

Although the vast majority of gays in China are believed to remain in the closet, a number of signs have emerged in recent months that official attitudes may be softening.

Last month, Chinas first government-backed gay bar opened in the town of Dali in Yunnan province. On Friday, the countrys first gay pageant is to be held to choose the Asian nations candidate for the Mr Gay World contest in Norway.