<p>Xiaogang was born and raised in Xinjiang, China. He was trained as an actor at the drama department of the Xinjiang Arts Institute in Urumqi and at the Shanghai Drama Academy. Having a passion for community work and a drive to contribute to social change, Xiao Gang has continually searched for meaningful ways to share his drama skills with others and to use them in socially relevant ways.</p><p>After finishing his studies, he moved to Beijing where he starred in various socially engaging theatre plays and movies. He was a drama teacher at various schools and universities and also successfully developed and implemented a program of drama workshops for different Beijing NGOs. He continues to volunteer for NGOs based in Beijing, and has been a consultant for UNICEF since 2005.</p><p>During recent years he started to engage himself on the production side of various film- and other productions benefiting different social movements in China. His most recent feats include the co-production of “I Want to Grow Old in China”(documentary) and the founding of the LGBT webcast “Queer Comrades”, for which he hosted and directed more than 45 half-hour episodes.</p>