The Chinese government may have unjustly arrested and later released AIDS activist Wan Yanhai, but that won't deter a group of dedicated homos from doing their part to stop the devastating tide of AIDS.

To commemorate World AIDS Day, a gay group unimaginatively called "The Rainbow Team" have been passing out pamphlets, providing HIV tests and generally spreading the AIDS message to anyone who will listen.

While hookers and junkies regularly get tested for the virus, some officials insist that gay men aren't jumping on the AIDS bandwagon. People's Daily Online reports:

China has five to 10 million gay men, according to official figures. However, some experts estimate the homosexual population is around 50 million.

The HIV infection rate is estimated at one to four percent among gay men, who are the second largest high-risk group following drug addicts.

However, homosexuals suffer huge social pressures in China and are unwilling to be identified despite growing awareness in recent years.

"AIDS prevention is easier among drug addicts and sex workers, but it's hard among homosexuals," says Ruan Shiman [head of HIV/AIDS prevention in Jinan Disease Prevention and Control Center].

The homos are a wiley bunch. All through history - by which we mean a little over a hundred years - man has tried to tackle the problem of homosexuality. Time and time, again, however, the gays escape their clutches. Hopefully Rainbow Team will have more luck than, say, the Nazis. They're certainly more gregarious, so that's a start...