China compares homosexuality to incest as both are banned from television
LGBT content will no longer be shown on Chinese TV screens.
Any content featuring LGBT couples or romance has been banned from television in China.
The China Television Drama Production Industry Association and the China Alliance of Radio, Film and Television āTV content production guidelinesā after a popular, gay high school drama was suddenly removed from streaming sites.
The alliance claimed the show ā and all other LGBT content ā promotes āabnormal sexual relationships and sexual behaviourā.
The ban will also apply to incest and sexual assault have in Chinese TV dramas.
The document also prohibits TV dramas from āshowing or promoting an unhealthy concept of marriage,ā ā such as extramarital affairs or one-night stands.
The regulations also mentioned the āpossession, reincarnation, witchcraft practices and feudal superstitionā, ābizarre, grotesque criminal casesā and content that has āadverse effects on minors,ā such as ālove between minors,ā smoking, drinking and fighting.
The news comes after Addicted ā a 15-episode series about a gay high school couple ā vanished from the internet without warning last week, leaving angry fans in the country unable to watch the last three episodes.
According to local media reports, censors took issue with the showās depiction of āabnormal sexual behaviourā and āromance between minors.ā
Addicted became massively popular over the Chinese New Year holiday ā especially among younger female fans.
The first episode broke records when it was released on January 29 ā receiving 10 million hits in just 24 hours.
In an online poll by the Chengdu Committee for the Well-being of Youth and Teenagers, more than 93% of the 20,000 respondents disapproved of the showās removal.
āThe SAPPRFT (decision) is too much. Is it necessary? Itās so unpopular,ā said a user on Chinaās Twitter-esque Weibo.
Earlier this year, a series of adverts urging people to be more accepting of gay people were launched across the country.
Homosexuality was removed from Chinaās official list of mental disorders in 2001 but remains a taboo subject.
