China’s LGBT communities fear new internet rules will silence voices
- New rules force self-publishers, including bloggers and social media users, to apply for an official licence to publish current affairs content
- The rules have raised concerns within the LGBT community that organising anything on behalf of LGBT rights could violate them
China’s LGBT communities are reeling over new internet self-publishing rules they claim will remove the last vestiges of free expression they have.
The new rules apply to everyone in China and force self-publishers to apply for an official licence to publish current affairs content.
The tough new restrictions on self-publishing, introduced by the Cyberspace Administration of China last year and given more details in late January, particularly target “we-media”, a phrase that refers to bloggers who have built up sizeable followings on social media platforms.
But for the LGBT communities that already feel marginalised, the rules are even more concerning.
“We are confused and worried about what the new rules will bring,” said Yang Yi of the China Rainbow Media Awards, a non-profit promoting LGBT visibility.
“Would sharing personal stories of school bullying, work discriminations and forced conversion therapy count as publishing news?” he asked.
