China Cracks Down on Online Gay Erotica

A New Wave of Crackdown Targets LGBTQ+ Fiction Writers

BEIJING, China — Chinese authors of homoerotic fiction are reporting threats of steep fines and potential prison sentences amid a renewed crackdown on LGBTQ+ content online. Citing vague obscenity laws, authorities appear to be tightening control over one of the few virtual spaces where feminist and queer voices have managed to find expression.

In recent weeks, police have reportedly detained several writers who publish on Haitang Literature City, a Taiwan-based platform that hosts serialized Boys’ Love (BL) stories — a genre of male-male romance fiction overwhelmingly written and read by heterosexual women.

Boys’ Love: Between Cultural Rebellion and Intensifying Censorship

Originating in Japanese manga in the 1960s under the name yaoi, Boys’ Love has since developed a devoted international audience and inspired numerous film and web series adaptations.

“It’s a form of resistance… against a male-dominated society,” said Miu Miu, a 22-year-old writer who spoke anonymously to AFP.

This latest wave of censorship is focusing heavily on amateur content creators — many of whom earn little or no income from their work.

Chinese law criminalizes the distribution of “obscene content” for profit, imposing possible fines and prison terms. If an author earns more than 10,000 yuan (around $1,400) or receives 10,000 views, the act may be deemed “severe,” and could result in sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

The law does provide exemptions for “works of artistic value,” but such determinations are left to the discretion of law enforcement.

Legal Gray Zones with Serious Consequences

“The laws are outdated,” said a defense attorney representing one of the accused authors, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation. “Public perceptions of sexuality have significantly evolved over the past few decades.”

One author contacted by police revealed she had earned only 2,000 yuan for two novels comprising 72 chapters, which had accrued approximately 100,000 views. On Weibo, she questioned, “Did 100,000 people really read my work? Will they really sentence me to three to five years?”

The Controversial Tactic of ‘Cross-Regional Policing’

The crackdown has reignited debate over the highly criticized practice known as “distant water fishing”, where police pursue cases beyond their jurisdiction, often to secure financial assets from suspects in other regions.

This allows police in cash-strapped areas to seize property from individuals far outside their locality. “They’ve realized these cases can be lucrative,” explained Liang Ge, a lecturer in digital sociology at University College London.

In one instance, an officer from Lanzhou traveled over 2,000 kilometers to the coast to interrogate an author. She was taken to the station, questioned for hours, and remains under supervised release — a situation that jeopardizes her career in sectors such as healthcare or government service.

Another young writer, only 20, was summoned from Chongqing to Lanzhou. Once there, authorities hinted that she should “return her illegal earnings” to potentially receive lenient treatment.

“It’s a deeply unhealthy practice,” commented the defense attorney, referencing national guidelines that have already called for its prohibition.

Growing Pressure on LGBTQ+ Communities in China

Activists say this crackdown is part of a broader agenda aimed at suppressing LGBTQ+ expression, which has intensified under President Xi Jinping.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in China only in 1997, and removed from the list of mental illnesses in 2001. Same-sex marriage remains illegal, and social stigma persists widely.

While Boys’ Love fiction varies in explicitness, its growing popularity has triggered state censorship. Storylines in TV dramas are often altered to erase romantic elements, transforming love stories into mere friendships in order to pass broadcasting regulations.

In 2018, a well-known author known by the pen name Tianyi was sentenced to over 10 years in prison after earning around $21,000 from a homoerotic novel involving a teacher-student relationship.

Last year, courts in Anhui province heard 12 cases involving the commercial distribution of obscene materials, though public records do not disclose the outcomes.

“Many in China feel their space to express themselves is rapidly shrinking,” added Liang Ge, who is also an avid BL reader. “This is no longer just about publishing online — it’s about what we’re even allowed to read in private.”

Silencing Voices — But Not Destroying Them

In response to the crackdown, many Haitang users have shut down their accounts. Yet Miu Miu remains defiant, saying, “I still hope I can finish writing my favorite stories.”

She added, “Sexual knowledge has become taboo. This is a social awakening.”