Chinese censors step up TV morality crusade with ban on homosexuality

In a ruling that would appear to ban anything interesting or entertaining from Chinese TV screens whatsoever, censors are set to implement a ruling that bans homosexuality, love affairs, teen romance and the supernatural from the small screen.

The measure comes after a popular same-sex drama series Addiction was taken offline last week and is part of a stepped up moral crusade under Chinese president Xi Jinping.

The ruling also bans "witchcraft, feudalism, supernatural beliefs and reincarnation," the Beijing Times reported.

TV shows which reveal how detectives solve cases in detail are to be banned, as they will give criminals ideas, while “bizarre, grotesque criminal cases” are also banned.

“Abnormal sexual relationships or behaviour” is banned, as are TV dramas which promote “an unhealthy state of marriage” such as flings or affairs.

Smoking, binge drinking, getting into fights, and the wearing of extravagant clothing is also banned.

Only shows which promote “excellent traditional culture” and “contribute to the Chinese Dream” are allowed and TV producers will have to use their talents to “spread positive energy”.

Classical works

Webizens are concerned, because the rules would seem to rule out even great classical works such as

The Water Margin

or

Journey to the West

, which feature animal gods and demons fighting each other and scenes of intense violence.

The Communist Party is also taking aim at corruption in public life and punishing bad behaviour such as drug abuse by celebrities. The rules were published on the website of the China Television Drama Production Industry Association, which is part of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and TV.

Homosexuality was taken off an official list of mental illnesses in 2001, after it was decriminalised in 1997, but homosexuals face significant discrimination in China.

In 2014, a raft of new censorship rules banned scenes of TV shows depicting everything from rape and incest to extramarital affairs and masturbation.

Last year, the TV show The Empress of China was taken off air because the historical drama featured shots of (apparently historically accurate) cleavage, and the show was edited, oddly to focus only on the faces of the actors, who included major star Fan Bingbing.