Originating as a strand of Japanese manga comics in the 1960s known as “yaoi”, the genre has attracted a cult following in Asia and beyond, leading to popular screen adaptations and web series.
The stories defy social stereotypes about the roles of men and women, a 22-year-old writer who asked to go by the pseudonym Miu Miu [said].
“It’s a kind of resistance… resisting a male-dominated society,” she said.
[…]
The latest crackdown ensnared mostly amateur writers who earned little to nothing for their work.
Under Chinese law, profiting from “spreading obscene content” can lead to fines and prison. “Serious” instances can carry jail terms of up to a decade.
The obscenity law applies when someone’s work gets at least 10,000 clicks or is “used” to collect fees exceeding 10,000 yuan (nearly $1,400).
[…]
Activists see the crackdown on alleged obscenity as part of a wider push to suppress LGBTQ expression – an effort that has expanded under President Xi Jinping.
China classified homosexuality as a crime until 1997 and a mental illness until 2001. Same-sex marriage is not legal and discrimination remains widespread.
[…]
The LGBT+ legal equality index (2025) captures to which extent LGBT+ people have the same rights as straight and cisgender people. It combines 15individual policies, such as the legality of same-sex relationships, marriage, and gender marker changes. It ranges from 0 to100 (most equal).