Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed serious worries about the Chinese government’s recent actions censoring social media accounts, foreign films, and events related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community during Pride month. The HRW highlighted that these measures indicate a worsening situation for LGBT individuals in China. Yalkun Uluyol, a China researcher at HRW, emphasized that under Xi Jinping’s leadership, the repression and control of gender and sexuality by the Chinese government have led to limited spaces for the LGBT community.
The HRW reported that Red Note, a prominent Chinese social media platform, banned the account of a Paris-based bookstore for promoting a transgender-themed film screening in Paris. The French Institute also canceled screenings of LGBT-themed films in Beijing due to police visits, causing concerns about harassment. The German cultural center, Goethe-Institut, had to move an event on gender expression online after facing venue issues in Beijing.
The HRW pointed out that since Xi Jinping assumed power, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on human rights defenders and feminist activists. Additionally, LGBT activists and organizations have encountered stricter regulations. The HRW criticized China for suppressing free speech and promoting state-approved gender norms, which violate the rights of LGBT individuals and international obligations. China researcher Uluyol urged the Chinese government to stop censoring LGBT content and events, emphasizing that LGBT people deserve equality and basic rights, not discrimination.
