‘But if Taiwan legalizes same-sex marriage … ’: discourses of homophobia and nationalism in a Chinese antigay community online

ABSTRACT

This article examines the interplay between homophobia and nationalism by analyzing online comments on the ruling of legalizing same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Drawing on methods from critical discourse analysis, I focus on the framing of this ruling by members from a Chinese antigay community online. I show that they frame this ruling as (1) in opposition to public opinion, (2) promoting ‘Westernization’ and ‘Independence’, (3) seeking immorality and self-destruction. I find that within these frames, they evoke nationalist discourses that represent supporters of this ruling as the ‘Other’ who attempt to split with China, thereby associating LGBT equality movements in China with this political threat. I argue that these nationalist discourses are used in a way that reinforces and legitimizes discourses of homophobia.

KEYWORDS:

• Homophobia
• equality
• same-sex marriage
• homophobic discourse
• nationalist discourse

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Brian King, for his helpful insights and comments on this article, and the two anonymous reviewers, for their feedback and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The analyzed data does not include comments on transgender people specifically, but the online forum does encompass opposition to transgender rights.

2 The territory of Taiwan is currently under the governance of the Republic of China led by the Democratic Progressive Party with Tsai Ing-wen as the President.

3 This is the first time that the Chinese government made a statement regarding LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality at a session of the third Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. See the news report: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1126355.shtml.

4 A reviewer points out Chinese society has been more tolerant about homosexuality and that anti-gay behaviors are at least not politically correct in the mainstream media of China, citing the evidence that an article posted on the Wechat public account of the People's Daily (China's official state newspaper) expresses the hope of legalizing same-sex marriage in mainland China. I partially agree with this observation, and think that the situation of LGBT rights is indeed improving in some ways, as we have witnessed some public announcements of support for LGBT rights from government officials and institutions. But we do see some obstacles as well, such as the censorship of LGBT-themed contents on screen by China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. Therefore, it might be suggested that the LGBT movement in China is in a phase of development and many challenges remain.

5 The URL of this online forum and the analyzed comments are https://tieba.baidu.com/f?ie=utf-8&kw=反同恋 and https://tieba.baidu.com/p/5131436617#107437525576l accessed on 28 May 2017.

6 The President of China, Xi Jinping in a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of the ‘Message to Compatriots in Taiwan’ emphasized the importance of the reunification of Taiwan and Mainland China.

7 I am aware that it is possible that this online forum might be a community of practice embedded with the community of knowledge, although at the moment I have not found solid evidence of this. Future research might consider whether such antigay online forums constitute communities of practice.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Xuekun Liu

Xuekun Liu is a PhD student in the School of English at the University of Hong Kong. He is interested in language, gender and sexuality. His current research addressees homophobic and counter-homophobic discourses in China. The University of Hong Kong, Centennial Campus, Room 746, 7/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China.