Beijing: “Every word has come back to haunt me,” a poignant sentiment shared by a writer recently caught in China’s crackdown on authors of gay erotica. The crackdown has intensified over the past few months, with several writers being arrested under China’s pornography laws, which penalize “producing and distributing obscene material.” This law, which can result in a jail term of more than ten years for those profiting from such content, appears to particularly target explicit depictions of gay sex, while heterosexual erotica often enjoys more leniency.
According to BBC, the Chinese social media platform Weibo has seen at least eight individuals, using various handles, recount their experiences of arrest for publishing gay erotic fiction. Among these is Pingping Anan Yongfu, who described the humiliating ordeal of being detained, examined, and paraded in front of strangers. As these writers shared their stories, a wave of support emerged from legal professionals offering pro bono assistance.
The crackdown has sparked online debate about China’s anti-obscenity laws, with critics questioning the shame associated with sexuality and the gendered control over what constitutes “obscene” material. Legal scholars have also raised concerns over the criteria for criminal distribution, which is triggered by as few as 5,000 views of content deemed obscene.
The genre in question, known as danmei, has roots in Japanese boys’ love manga and has grown into a significant cultural phenomenon in China. Despite—or perhaps because of—its controversial nature, danmei has a strong following and has even seen international success, with some works adapted into films and TV shows. The genre provides a creative and often subversive outlet for women within a society that heavily polices female sexual desire.
The crackdown on danmei writers comes amid broader government efforts to promote traditional family values as China faces declining birth and marriage rates. Some experts, like Dr. Liang Ge from University College London, suggest that the popularity of danmei is seen as a threat to these goals, as it may dissuade women from traditional roles of marriage and motherhood.
The legal actions against these writers represent the second wave of mass arrests in less than a year, following a similar crackdown the previous year. The aggressive enforcement has led to accusations of overreach by local police, who have been accused of summoning writers beyond their jurisdiction, a tactic referred to as “offshore fishing.”
Despite the legal and social repercussions, many writers remain defiant, expressing a continued commitment to their craft and community. They hope for greater legal understanding and recognition of the cultural and personal significance behind their work, as they navigate the challenges of censorship and crackdown.