China centers queer pages and content in relevant groups on the net
First of all, it is not illegal to be gay in China. Since the mid-1970s, homosexuals or queers are no longer considered criminals there. However, in the past - and also in the current case described in this article - there have been repeated censures. This can be seen, among other things, in the fact that no homosexual couples are shown on Chinese television. The Chinese Internet also has strict rules in this regard.
Now, two relevant queer groups ("Gay Pride" and "ColorsWorld") have been blocked within the WeChat app. But that's not all... Even those who have used the app could now be in trouble. Due to the fact that data protection in China is not compatible with European guidelines, it will probably be easy to pass on the relevant details to the relevant authorities.
What was censored?
According to recent reports, the accounts of various LGBTQ initiatives are affected by the current censorship restrictions.
Anyone who opens the WeChat app and now wants to call up one of the corresponding pages receives a message that the respective content has been blocked. The accounts cannot be used any further.
The reason given for the steps is that the operators of the groups have violated rules. The exact rules are not explained further. However, there were several complaints about the accounts, which prompted the responsible parties to take this step.
Instead of the labels "Gay Pride" and "ColorsWorld" you can now only read "Untitled Account".
It is not known whether the accounts will return at some point in the future and whether there was specific content that led to the ripcord being pulled. Possibly the groups have been under observation for a while?
However, it is also clear that the two channels mentioned are "only" two of many. It almost seems as if the censorship office has launched a kind of "sweeping attack" here. Those affected themselves are currently powerless. It is not possible for them to republish their group.
Censorship action does not go down well with everyone
The news about the fact that the mentioned groups were removed or blocked from the app spread quickly.
Many LGBTQ activists have now vented their anger and called for solidarity and protests. The problem is that these calls did not manage to remain visible on the Chinese Internet for long. They, too, have been removed.
How the situation will develop is currently still unclear. Particularly confusing for many here is certainly the contradiction on the basis of which action is being taken. On the one hand, it is - as pragmatic as it may sound - allowed by law to be homosexual, but on the other hand, people in China do not want to see any queer content on the net or on the Internet.
But the fact alone that it didn't take long for protests to arise shows that part of the Chinese population here is definitely oriented towards Western European values. And even if posts against censorship could not be viewed for long: The will to change is there. Accordingly, the LGBTQ community is also growing in China and is ready to fight for its rights.
Did you know? Emma Corrin is "non-binary