China causes outrage by banning online content of 'abnormal' homosexual relationships

[Tennis]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ch...-a7818166.html

New regulations issued by Bejing will prohibit portrayals of homosexuality, prostitution and drug addiction. The China Netcasting Services Association (CNSA) is targeting what they consider "abnormal" sexual activity.

The rules which were issued on Friday demand that online video platforms hire at least three “professional censors”. They were ordered to view entire programmes and take down any considered not sticking to the “correct political and aesthetic standards,” according to the latest regulations.

The move is seen by human rights groups as the latest tightening of censorship in China. Government officials had closed down celebrity gossip blogs that authorities claim were “catering to the public’s vulgar taste,” according to Channel News Asia.

Other online material deemed offensive include damaging the national image, criticising revolutionary leaders or portraying the supernatural such as “conjuring spirits”.

Those who don’t adhere to the new rules face being reported to the police for further investigation, according to Xhinua state news agency.

One of China’s most famous sexologists condemned the latest move. “First of all, from the perspective of an artist, very few countries in this world set up a censorship system that violates its citizens’ freedom to create arts,” Li wrote on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website. “Second, it also violates the rights of sexual minorities to express their sexual preference.”


In 2016, Freedom House, which promotes democracy and human rights, condemned China as the “worst abuser of internet freedom” in the world.

China has a poor record on gay rights. According to a survey by Peking University, less than 15 per cent of homosexuals said they had come out to their families, and more than 50 per cent of those who had revealed their sexuality, said they had suffered discrimination as a consequence.

Homosexuality in China was decriminalised in 1997 and remained on the official list of mental illnesses until 2001.

The Chinese government banned all representations of LGBT people on TV in 2016, stating that “No television drama shall show abnormal sexual relationships and behaviours, such as incest, same-sex relationships, sexual perversion, sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual violence, and so on.”

It will be interesting to see what effect this has on the population. I wonder what the numbers say for China vs other countries.

[Very Tired]

Doesn't China still place a high value on males for the sake of continuing on the family name with their offspring? I couldn't exactly imagine homosexuality flying to well with that ideal.

[Independent voter]

Fifty years ago we were the same way.

[zlygork]

It would be interesting to hear the point of view of some random chinese citizens

[Mittens]

Fifty years ago we were the same way.

Is this meant to justify China's blatant disregard not only for free speech but also against homosexuals?

[LongTimeCreeper]

What is wrong with banning prostitution and drug addiction on TV? Is there a problem banning portrayals of sexual assault and sexual violence? Or is the only artistic freedom you are concerned about is homosexual expression?

[Tennis]

Doesn't China still place a high value on males for the sake of continuing on the family name with their offspring? I couldn't exactly imagine homosexuality flying to well with that ideal.

It's really rough in China for men because of the inequality in numbers. If you're a man and can't get married you're called a dead branch (meaning you can't bear fruit)

[PickleballAce]

You mean Europe's new best friend in a post-Trump world? That China?

[Taso]

Doesn't surprise me. China has always claimed to tradition over modernity. Cuba for the most part is like that too.

[GreenJesus]

Remember Wrath of the Lich King expansion where they banned any depiction of bones/undead?

[Independent voter]

Is this meant to justify China's blatant disregard not only for free speech but also against homosexuals?

Well, long as there is progress. Wasn't that long ago they denied having homosexuals, only decadent Western countries had gays, at least they admit they have gay Chinese people now, it's a step forward.

[Mittens]

It would be interesting to hear the point of view of some random chinese citizens

They probably support it, Chinese netizens are pretty brainwashed and cultish when it comes to criticism against the CCP and China.

Take for example this:



The video was so controversial that the girl was forced to apologise after her social life in China was destroyed and death threats were made against her family.

Relevant article.

[KrazyK923]

And here we go again.

And people wonder why LGBT people are constantly paranoid about our rights being eroded even when we win victories in the courts or in the court of popular opinion.

[Mittens]

Well, long as there is progress. Wasn't that long ago they denied having homosexuals, only decadent Western countries had gays, at least they admit they have gay Chinese people now, it's a step forward.

And they are referred as moral deviants. I don't think that can be called progress. Also, China itself is not really making any efforts on the human rights front.

Edit:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/201...hina-and-tibet

[Kapadons]

China gets to make their own laws. Who are you or I to judge what they do? Focus on your own PoS country Tenn

[Video Games]

Here is some positivity

[Deleted]

Is this meant to justify China's blatant disregard not only for free speech but also against homosexuals?

What makes you think people in China got right(by law) for free speech? Even in countries that have laws granting freedom of speech citizens don't actually have that right - not effectively at least.

Nothing really surprising, it will be like that until their government falls, then it will start getting better until they reach point where they go overboard other way

[Teevo]

Let em ban the abnormal ones, as long as they leave the regular homosexuals alone. I mean, who wants to see some weird mutant homosexuals? Like, goo people or somethin'.

[Mittens]

What makes you think people in China got right(by law) for free speech? Even in countries that have laws granting freedom of speech citizens don't actually have that right - not effectively at least.

Nothing really surprising, it will be like that until their government falls, then it will start getting better until they reach point where they go overboard other way

What's funny is that the Chinese constitution grants them right to free speech.

Article 35. Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy the freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.

http://en.people.cn/constitution/constitution.html

[Hell-Nicø]

How can tennis not be banned for that forum already?
The only thing he does is spamming copy/paste of stupid lefty article.


DO YOU REALLY THINK GAY CONTENT IS THE ONLY STUFF BANNED ONLINE IN CHINA?!
WAKE UP KIDDO!!