Watch: Gay Couple Gets Engaged On Beijing Subway, Crowd Cheers

China still has a long way to go when it comes to LGBT rights. Homosexuality was only decriminalized in 1997, and was still listed as a mental illness until 2001. Today, organizations like PFLAG China are working hard to combat the belief that gay relationships are incompatible with the country's largely conservative society, a hurdle for many when it comes to acceptance. Things do seem to be changing, however as evident from the crowd's response to a young gay couple getting engaged on a Beijing subway.

The proposal begins with one of the men getting on his knee and holding up an engagement watch, saying, as reported by Pink News, "Today, I invite all the people we know and do not know to bear witness." While some bystanders reportedly expressed their disapproval, the overall reaction was incredibly positive, with the car erupting into applause when the couple hugged. Videos and photos quickly went viral, with one woman accompanying a post with the caption:

"As usual, I was taking the subway home, but contrary to what I was expecting, I encountered a couple’s love."

Congrats to the happy couple, and to a society visibly making progress on LGBT acceptance!