this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2025
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"I've been warned not to talk about it," the woman wrote, before revealing snippets of the day she says she was arrested for publishing gay erotica.

"I'll never forget it - being escorted to the car in full view, enduring the humiliation of stripping naked for examination in front of strangers, putting on a vest for photos, sitting in the chair, shaking with fear, my heart pounding."

The handle, Pingping Anan Yongfu, is among at least 8 in recent months which have shared accounts on Chinese social media platform Weibo of being arrested for publishing gay erotic fiction. As authors recounted their experiences, dozens of lawyers offered pro bono help.

At least 30 writers, nearly all of them women in their 20s, have been arrested across the country since February, a lawyer defending one told the BBC. Many are out on bail or awaiting trial, but some are still in custody. Another lawyer told the BBC that many more contributors were summoned for questioning.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

The background of the matter transcends conflicts over gender concepts. In recent years, many local governments have been unable to cover their expenses, resulting in a phenomenon known as "distant sea fishing" (远洋捕捞), which refers to "profit-driven law enforcement," aimed at plundering money from other places. These female writers are just a tiny fraction of the victims. There are also well-known entrepreneurs who have lost their lives due to such extortion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

There are also well-known entrepreneurs who have lost their lives due to such extortion.

I'd be interested to read more, but I'm not sure I've heard about "distant sea fishing" before. Can you pass the articles/links to the stories you're referencing?

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[–] [email protected] 98 points 1 day ago (37 children)

But .ml communities promise meChina has mote free speech than the West! How is this possible?

/s

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

To be clear, writing and posting erotica isn't illegal, its profiting off it that was illegal, which is still fucked, but less of a free speech issue.

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Clearly, the BBC made it all up. Because it contradicts them. /s

Literally the newest top-level comment right now.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 22 hours ago (8 children)

You don’t even have to be charged with anything before ICE grabs you off the street at throws you in a van in the US…

[–] [email protected] 7 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Can you connect these dots for me?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 12 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 14 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Yeah, unfortunately the US is becoming more and more like China in this regard.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

And I assume you wish the US to keep doing that because China is doing that and it's clearly working?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (7 children)

I’m simply responding to the commenter’s comparison to “the west”. Like, if that’s the game we’re gonna play I think I just scored a point. Both situations are obviously terrible duh

[–] [email protected] 8 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

Very USA-Centric of you lol

USA =/= "The West"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago

The US is part of the west. If it happens in the US, it happens in the west, because the US is in the west.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 hours ago

Also useless whataboutism. The sign of someone who has no arguments left to defend their beliefs.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

Yes it's fucking horrible, I have the misfortune of living in the US but the same goes for China, North Korea, Russia and I could go on.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 22 hours ago

Which is true for China as well

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[–] [email protected] 75 points 1 day ago (1 children)

These authors are being accused of breaking China's pornography law for "producing and distributing obscene material". Writers who earn a profit could be jailed for more than 10 years.

The law targets "explicit descriptions of gay sex or other sexual perversions".

Jesus I thought there might have been some bullshit pretense, but apparently it's just straight-up illegal there.

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[–] [email protected] 137 points 1 day ago (4 children)

This will eventually be the U.S. if we don’t stop the erosion. Right now they are going after trans, brown people. They will turn attention after to others.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 hours ago

Which is funny because I think most conservative and religious politicians are actually into gay sex.

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