Worth reading the article, all erotica was targeted, as porn is illegal in China. Implying only gay erotica was targeted implies a homophobic focus, when it was anti-pornography.
Important distinction.
You’re right, the source of course is only talking about the 10, because it is relevant to them. Title doesn’t matter.
But, the government as a whole is homophobic or same-sex marriage would be legal.
Do you feel people should be imprisoned for writing erotic fiction?
Good point. The issue at hand must be understood within the broader framework of state power and ideological control. While it’s true that the immediate justification for these arrests is rooted in anti-pornography laws, the enforcement of such laws is not ideologically neutral. Under a socialist analysis, we must examine who these laws serve and who they suppress. The targeting of erotic writers—particularly LGBTQ+ creators—fits into a pattern of reinforcing bourgeois morality and suppressing dissenting or marginalized voices.
Sexuality, as part of the superstructure, is inherently tied to the base. In a society where the state aligns itself with heteronormative and patriarchal values, laws purportedly aimed at “protecting morality” often become tools of repression against communities and expressions that deviate from the status quo. The absence of legal protections for LGBTQ+ people and the lack of recognition for same-sex marriage in China is a clear indication of the state’s alignment with reactionary values, even as it claims to uphold socialism.
Marxists should oppose the imprisonment of writers for exploring erotic themes because these laws serve to restrict the free development of human creativity and reinforce the control of the state over the personal lives of individuals. Engels, in The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, critiques how oppressive social norms are used to maintain class society. Similarly, the suppression of erotic fiction is not about protecting the people but about consolidating ideological control over the masses, maintaining a culture of obedience and fear.
We must also critique the broader pattern of repression. Mass arrests, whether for writing fiction or other nonviolent expressions, represent the actions of a state more concerned with controlling its people than advancing their material conditions. A truly proletarian state would encourage the flourishing of diverse cultural expressions as part of the revolutionary process, not silence them under the pretext of “morality.”
This crackdown is not an isolated incident but part of a larger reactionary turn in the governance of China. As communists, we must oppose these repressive measures and advocate for a society where the working class—not the state bureaucracy—has control over cultural and ideological production. Liberation includes the liberation of human expression from the chains of both commodification and state repression.
China should definitely be better about LGBT rights, don’t get me wrong, but they have been improving steadily over the years, the youth are more socially progressive and have been pushing for change, which is coming gradually. Overall, this is very much an instance of intentionally obscuring the real character of the events in order to push a narrative.
Well, the people of china and the government are different. The government is firm in its stance, and is not improving at all. Since the people have very little control over their government, I don’t see this changing anytime soon.
I do agree that the article title was geared towards the audience that usually reads that website—like most websites. However, Regardless of the specific event, the CCP is not interested in the LGBT community.
What about you? Do you think that same-sex couples should be able to marry in China?
I see, op is very concerned about the incorrect inpriosioning of regular folks. Im sure if we look at his history we will find lots of posts against the mass incarceration of Black folks in the USA, or the arrest of protesters against genocide, or the policial brutality in western countries. Im sure
In total there were 50 people arrested, in case anyone thinks China was only targeting gay erotica. They just hate porn.
The correct response to being corrected on media illiteracy is “thank you”.
Here is another. Your personal views of media literacy are similar to that of a MAGA.
Odd sentiment from someone deliberately lying for the purposes of propaganda
Are you even getting paid for this?
That’s rich coming from .ml
Would you like a more state sponsored telling?:
Yes, porn is illegal in China. All porn. They weren’t targeted for being gay, as both this article and the original Chinese language article points out. They don’t get special treatment for producing gay literature either way.
Opposing the sex industry is a common and principled left stance. It is only in capitalist countries where their cops are funded to harrass people and Johns are rarely punished where there has been a need for a “sex work is work” movement.
In countries run or established by communists, they were often facing racial or otherwise imperialist systemic rape (“comfort women” for Japanese imperialists, for example), recognized how this worked in both slavery and “transactional” capacities, and correctly banned it. Things like erotica were swept up in this total purge of marketing sex, and enforcement is inconsistent as it is usually regional.
Please so your best to educate yourself, be accurate in your summaries, and to not be sinophobic.
Things like erotica were swept up in this total purge of marketing sex, and enforcement is inconsistent as it is usually regional.
A convenient excuse to stifle a person’s consenting sexuality and agency. Written erotica hurts no one, and those arguing otherwise are falling into their authoritarian tendencies.
If you don’t like sex work like pictured/video pornography and prostitution I can at least understand your reasoning. Both have massive issues of trafficking and sexual slavery. But swinging the hammer down like this on written erotica is purely authoritarian. And trying to justify arrests made as “inconsistent enforcement” is giving cover, purposeful or otherwise, to that authoritarianism.
Sex workers are workers, end of story.
I understand you Americans have fucked up views on sex workers and treat them like shit, but that is on you.
Also Australia women were taken as comfort women by Japan, and yet we still legalise and protect our sex workers.
Porn is a serious issue that leads to detrimental addictive behavior, unrealistic dating and sex expectations, and is only needed for the weakest, dumbest masturbators.
Wonder how long this’ll stay here for.
And how many ml comms OP will be instantly banned from.
As of this moment, it literally has not happened here in this post, but go on with your stolen valor 😂
Just until the mods wake up and censor it, claiming it’s not a valid news source, adding 20 links, and a copy paste from the communist manifesto.
https://sh.itjust.works/comment/15909174
Already started
