At least 30 arrested in China for writing gay erotica
Chinese authorities have arrested at least 30 writers for penning gay erotica. (Greg Baker/Getty)
Chinese authorities have arrested at least 30 writers for penning gay erotica. (Greg Baker/Getty)
Chinese authorities have arrested at least 30 people – mostly women in their twenties – for writing gay erotica.
They face being charged under the country’s pornography laws for “producing and distributing obscene material,” with potential jail sentences exceeding 10 years for those who earned profits.
The arrests, which stretch back to February, were made for publishing gay erotic fiction now as “danmei” on Taiwan-based platform Haitang Literature City. The crackdown has sparked online debate and offers of legal support from lawyers, although discussions are being censored and writers’ social media accounts are disappearing.
Danmei, inspired by Japanese boys’ love manga, has become popular among young Chinese women, as a creative outlet to explore relationships outside traditional gender roles.
@pinknews Chinese authorities have arrested at least 30 writers, mostly women in their 20s, since February for publishing gay erotic fiction known as "danmei" on the Taiwan-based platform Haitang Literature City. They face charges under China's p***ography laws for "producing and distributing obscene material," with potential sentences exceeding 10 years for those who earned profits. The crackdown has sparked online debate and offers of legal support from lawyers, though discussions are increasingly being censored and writers' social media accounts are disappearing. Danmei, inspired by Japanese boys' love manga, has become a hugely popular genre among young Chinese women as a creative outlet to explore relationships outside traditional gender roles. #china #manga #danmei #genderidentity #smut #lgbtqia ♬ Epic News – DM Production
Homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997 but same-sex marriage is not recognised and there are no legal protections to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. It wasn’t until 2001 that homosexuality was declassified as a mental disorder.
A major LGBTQ+ advocacy group in China fighting legal battles for the queer community was shut down in 2021 and the following year Chinese streaming platforms censored episodes of Friends that featured queer characters and storylines.
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