Chinese authorities are intensifying a crackdown on writers of Boys’ Love, a genre of gay erotic fiction that has gained traction in the past decades. The recent actions have seen dozens, especially young women, interrogated by police and facing severe legal consequences, including hefty fines and prison sentences.
Taking the case of a graduate student in southern China as a representative example, her romantic novel, which featured a passionate love affair between two male characters, earned her a modest $400 through online self-publishing. However, fear of criminal charges now looms over her and many others like her.
Recent court documents indicate that at least 12 authors in Anhui Province were prosecuted on obscenity charges, solidifying the crackdown as one of the largest of its kind in recent memory. Investigations continue nationwide, particularly in Gansu Province, targeting those involved in the creation and distribution of these works.
Originating from Japan, Boys’ Love has cultivated a dedicated fan base in China since the 1990s, predominantly among heterosexual women. The genre challenged traditional narratives by offering diverse perspectives on male-male relationships, a stark contrast to the typical portrayals of women and men in conventional romances.
In its prime during the 2010s, Boys' Love contributed to popular television dramas and birthed notable male stars in the industry. However, the narrative took a sharp turn as state media began labeling the genre as "vulgar" and censoring its adaptations. Policymakers expressed concerns over the potential effects such stories could have on young readers' sexual orientations, leading to more regulations against gay-themed content.
Some cases have sparked public outrage, such as the 2018 sentencing of a prominent author to a decade in prison over obscenity charges, reflecting the tightening grip of censorship on artistic expression in China amid changing social dynamics.
