The Chinese government only removed homosexuality from its list of "mental disorders" in 2001. Local media has put the number of gays and lesbians at around 12.5 million – but the real figure is likely much higher. These days, on a Friday or Saturday night in any of the country's bigger cities, nightclubs catering to gays and lesbians are often full.  But in smaller towns and villages across the country, it's still much harder to admit to being homosexual. Family and social pressure, and in some cases religious views, are still placing a heavy burden on gays and lesbians living in these areas. Elise Potaka brings us this story from a small town in China's western Xinjiang province.