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evisions. In addition, many librarians at the Duke University Libraries, especially Ms. Luo Zhou,
have been very generous in sharing their knowledge of available resources and assisting me in
obtaining research materials. My gratitude also goes to the Asian and Pacific Studies Institute
(APSI) for their research grants that directly influenced my work and perspective in this thesis.
My experiences with the tongzhi subculture in Beijing, China helped me better understand some
of the themes in online Comrade stories. Moreover, I appreciate all the tongzhi who took the time
to share their lives and experiences with me.
Finally, I wish to thank my family and close friends, whose enthusiasm and interest in
this thesis have given me the motivation and perseverance to realize this achievement.
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