Bisexuals, homosexuals, pansexuals, and such are often all classified as one category in China - the abnormal, the ones with mental illnesses, and the mutated monsters. From generations to generations, there has only been the traditional and long-established mindset of only heterosexual relationship and marriage. History has taught us nothing but that it repeats itself. Humans are bound to discriminate against those who do not or refuse to follow the norms. Such cases are evident in China: "Coming out of the closet", the phrase many Chinese uses to depict the admittance of one's homosexuality, is widely seen as a distorted behavior which sparked long, heated arguments over the years.
In 1973, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the disease classification system. In 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally removed homosexuality from the disease list and considered homosexuality as one of the normal categories of human sexuality. And a huge success for the Chinese LGBT+ community came in 2001 when homosexuality was removed from the group of mental illness in the Chinese Diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders (CCMD-3).
However, China still has a long way to go. In 2017, the General Rules for the Review of Internet Audiovisual Program Contents stated that homosexuality is an abnormal sexual relationship- this perception is nothing new. In the "General Rules for the Production of TV Drama Contents" publicized by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, homosexual subjects were blacklisted. The added rules in 2017 just extended the grasps of supervision farther and directly to all online audiovisual programs. The rules have not changed today in 2020. Kissing on the lips is a clear sign of homosexual behavior in videos and pictures that are blurred or taken down on almost all the social media platforms.
"Homosexuality is abnormal, isn't it just disgusting?"
"Homosexuality is indeed a mental illness, thank you."
"I'm disgusted with homosexuality. They are too high-profile and want to get married. It's disgusting."
Such comments are seen everywhere, and every time a brave individual speaks up. It was not too long before I realized that there are always going to be a group of people who only want to hear one voice in the world: the only one they think is right. In their eyes, depriving homosexuals of their right to speak is undeniably right and reasonable.
In so many incidents in China, when someone has a different sexual orientation, their family members or friends feel the need to "correct" them and make them "normal" again. Undoubtedly to them, homosexuality is evil and a natural sin that cannot be forgiven. They think those who are willing to come out suffer from this "disease", thus should be obscured and hidden from everyone.
Many times while watching my motherland become prosperous over the years, I am genuinely proud of the country I was born and raised in. But whenever I see such remarks discriminating against homosexuals or the LGBT+ community, I could not feel prideful at all. There is only a sense of sadness and helplessness.
But I believe the light will make its way through, one day.
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