At least 30 individuals, most of them women in their twenties, have been arrested in China for writing and sharing gay erotica, in what human rights observers are calling a renewed crackdown on creative expression and LGBTQ+ content.
The arrests, which date back to February, target writers who published gay romantic fiction—known as danmei—on the Taiwan-based platform Haitang Literature City. The authors now face charges under China’s pornography laws for “producing and distributing obscene material.” Those who profited from their writing could face sentences of more than a decade in prison.
The genre of danmei, inspired by Japanese boys’ love (yaoi) manga, has gained widespread popularity among young Chinese women for its portrayal of relationships that challenge traditional gender dynamics. Despite this cultural traction, the Chinese government has escalated its suppression of LGBTQ+ representation and content.
News of the arrests has triggered an outpouring of online concern, offers of legal support, and discussion. However, these conversations are being heavily censored, with authors’ social media accounts disappearing and posts related to the crackdown swiftly removed.
Although homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997 and removed from the list of mental disorders in 2001, there remain no legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Same-sex marriage is not recognised, and queer advocacy has faced increasing state resistance.
In recent years, censorship has intensified. A major LGBTQ+ rights organisation was shut down in 2021, and in 2022, popular Western TV shows such as Friends were edited to remove queer characters and references.
