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Editorial | Let reason prevail in debate on gay rights
- Discussion of such issues should not be barred in mainland China nor should online forums used for that purpose be shut down
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Relations between Beijing and Washington are so fraught that every foreign policy decision is viewed with suspicion. There has been no official Chinese comment on US President Joe Biden’s pledge to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights around the world.
A recent crackdown in mainland China on social media accounts operated by student groups supporting such causes could too easily be perceived as having political overtones. The concerns are understandable given the manner in which issues including Xinjiang and Hong Kong have been used by Western governments to take action including imposing sanctions.
But being gay is not a crime in China and no matter how conservative a society may be, there is a need for sensible debate to ensure that all people, no matter what their sexual orientation, can be treated fairly and with dignity.
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Societies such as China’s that still adhere to traditional values are bound to see outside interference as a reason for agitation by LGBT groups. That is especially so as liberal nations increasingly accept same-sex marriage and legalise gay partnerships.
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Homosexuality is not a Western concept, though; it exists in every culture, no matter what some governments contend. Ancient Chinese poetry contains references as do celebrated novels from past centuries, among them Jin Ping Mei and Dream of the Red Chamber.
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