Chinese LGBT rights group shuts down

world
Chinese Lgbt Rights Group Shuts Down
The group's online content, © AP/Press Association Images
Share this article

By Huizhong Wu, AP

An LGBT advocacy group in China that has spearheaded many of the country’s legal cases pushing for greater rights is halting its work for the foreseeable future.

LGBT Rights Advocacy China announced it was ceasing all activities and shutting down its social media accounts in an announcement on social media Thursday.

Advertisement

“We are deeply regretful to tell everyone, Queer Advocacy Online will stop all of our work indefinitely,” the group said on WeChat, using the name of its social media account.

It closed its accounts on WeChat and Weibo, two widely used platforms in China.

A member confirmed that all the group’s activities have been shut down, but declined to say why. Group founder Peng Yanzi did not respond to a request for comment.

LGBT Rights Advocacy China carried out work across the country, pushing for the rights of gay people and raising awareness about the community.

Advertisement


Chinese LGBT group
Gay rights activists run with a rainbow flag during the Hangzhou International Marathon (Chinatopix Via AP)

It advocated for same-sex marriage and fought workplace discrimination by helping individuals sue their former employers.

The group helped a young woman sue textbook publishers for writing that homosexuality was a disorder. She lost the case in February, after years of litigation.

Advertisement

Homosexuality is not a crime in China, and in bigger cities, there is a vibrant social scene where LGBT individuals can socialise without much fear or discrimination.

However, it appears that restrictions on advocacy groups and online censorship has grown, according to people within the LGBT community.

In July, WeChat shut down dozens of accounts run by university students and non-profit groups on LGBT topics.

One LGBT blogger, who declined to be named out of fear of retribution, said it is getting increasingly difficult to run an LGBT group in the current environment, noting that WeChat and other social media platforms are deleting related content.

Advertisement

Shanghai Pride cancelled its annual event in 2020 and said it would no longer hold it, without any explanation, after 11 years of operation.

“The future may bring more uncertainties, we await the day when we can lift the clouds and see the daylight,” the group said in a post.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com