China is escalating its enforcement against young women who write gay erotica, with at least 30 writers arrested for what authorities label as "obscene material." Many of these authors, predominantly in their 20s, have begun sharing their harrowing experiences on Chinese social media after being detained for publishing works in the "danmei" genre, which explores romantic relationships between male characters.
One author, whose account gained traction online as Pingping Anan Yongfu, revealed her traumatic experience of being arrested, detailing the public shame of being strip-searched and photographed. Since February, the crackdown on danmei authors, known for their devoted fanbase among young women, has led to a community uproar, with dozens of lawyers offering pro bono assistance to those in need.
The writers are accused of violating China’s pornography laws, which impose strict penalties for explicit content, particularly concerning homosexual subjects. In contrast, heterosexual works often encounter more lenient scrutiny. This disparity in enforcement highlights the cultural stigma surrounding LGBTQ+ themes, provoking a pushback among the danmei community who are calling for a reassessment of these laws.
Discussions around the arrests sparked a brief but heated debate on platforms like Weibo, especially with posts under the hashtag #HaitangAuthorsArrested gaining millions of views before being censored. Many women have expressed feelings of shame but also a deep attachment to their community and stories, which they fear may be lost. The crackdown reflects a wider governmental effort to promote traditional values, as internet censorship increases across China.
As these women face severe legal and societal consequences, the future of the danmei genre hangs in the balance. Many in the community continue to support each other, expressing determination to maintain their creative freedom, with some authors vowing to persist in writing despite the risks. The crackdown thus highlights the ongoing struggles against societal repression faced by LGBTQ+ artists in China, where subversive narratives are met with harsh penalties.
