[metildaa]

Its not safe to be queer. There are broad societal protection that one loses out on the second they aren't straight acting and cis-gendered, all it takes is a shift in the political winds for governments to start rounding up any class or minority they don't like.

There are "safer" places in the world to be queer, but the threat of danger and violence never goes away, even in gayborhoods like here in parts of Seattle.

[Illniyar]

That's true for every minority everywhere - for ethnic, religious and as you mentioned sexual minorities. The threat that the majority would turn the tables on you is always a future threat.

[Jach]

It's true for the smallest minority, the individual, too. The threat of a group going after you doesn't even need to come from a majority.

[n4r9]

It's a matter of degree surely. There are plenty of places in the world where a straight, white Westerner can live as a minority with relatively little fear of violence. Almost none for a gay person.

[metildaa]

Gotta love it when HN downvotes you for reasonable comments!

To the downvoters of OP, where is safe from harassment and attacks? Here in Seattle, the queer haters literally roll in and beat us up for fun, even enclaves like Fire Island aren't going to be able to avoid this threat.

[chimeracoder]

> There are "safer" places in the world to be queer, but the threat of danger and violence never goes away, even in gayborhoods like here in parts of Seattle.

100% true. And the risk is multiplied for those of us who are both queer and not-white.

Yes, sometimes there are ways to mitigate that risk, but most of the time, it's just there - nothing we can do except hope that we're lucky.

[metildaa]

This is on point. HN blows chunks for downvoting you, but whadaya expect from a site heavily populated by cis-gendered techbros pushing a lawbertarian agenda?

[downandout]

What you're saying may well be true, but it has no bearing on the case in this article. Based on the article, it appears that the author wasn't jailed for writing gay sex scenes, but rather for selling books with sex scenes of any kind. Apparently China has a law against selling pornographic books of any kind, and this author ran afoul of it.

[Nasrudith]

Said laws are likely made to be enforced selectively when a distraction is needed or a pretext. One naughty book in a library and you have something to vilify that troublesome bookseller over.

[drankula3]

Got any proof of this? Or does it just "feel" like the truth?

[Nasrudith]

I did say likely - it is possible they are sincere in their doctrines. Why I think this is more conjecture than proven fact or feeling. Laws everyone breaks and are enforced only when convenient is a classic totalitarian tactic for control.

Given other accounts about things like the lax pollution enforcement until it causes a loss of face and how corruption charges were used more for solidifying President for Life status than actually reducing corruption cynical motivations are consistent.

[metildaa]

The history of Pride Parades is literally beating back the cops who were out for blood, selectively enforcing laws: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

Modern corporate "pride" parades blow chunks in comparison, just a scam by large companies to create a new holiday to profit on while garnering community goodwill.

[chimeracoder]

> Based on the article, it appears that the author wasn't jailed for writing gay sex scenes, but rather for selling books with sex scenes of any kind. Apparently China has a law against selling pornographic books of any kind, and this author ran afoul of it.

All over the world, sex-negative laws are disproportionately enforced against queer people (and specifically queer people of color). Sure, the statue here applies to all pornography/erotica, but that doesn't negate OP's point that it is not safe to be queer (or to produce content targeted at a queer audience).

[downandout]

but that doesn't negate OP's point that it is not safe to be queer

Nor did I say that it did. In fact I said the opposite, in the very first words of my comment..."What you're saying may well be true...".

[chimeracoder]

You said

> but it has no bearing on the case in this article

Except it very much does have bearing on this case.

[downandout]

Except it very much does have bearing on this case.

That's your assumption, but without hard data about how many people have been sentenced for distributing gay pornography books vs. straight pornography books, it is exactly that...an assumption.

[BurnGpuBurn]

> cis-gendered

Not to take anything away from your point, but if you mean white males, then why not say so? And what do I (a white male) have to do with any of this? Should I feel guilty now?

[zimpenfish]

"cis-gendered" just means "same gender identity as birth" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgender

Nothing to do with white or male.

[kbos87]

Nobody is implying that you should feel guilty, it was just an observation.