Chinese authorities have suddenly canceled several performances of famous transgender dancer and TV host Jin Jing. The move has raised fears of Beijing tightening its grip on the ideological and cultural expression of the LGBTQ+ community.
Jin, known for her modern dance and outspoken television personality, is a rare figure of success and visibility in a country where transgender individuals often face social stigma and discrimination. But his public activities have been affected due to the recent cancellation of programs by local authorities. His dance troupe’s performance of famous Chinese playwright Cao Yu’s play Sunrise was canceled in Guangzhou late last year. Officials cited inadequate documentation as the cause, but cancellations followed without explanation in Foshan, Suzhou and Shanghai, CNN reported.
The cancellation comes amid a broader crackdown by Chinese authorities on what they see as Western influences, including LGBTQ+ rights. Some fear that Jin’s public profile as a transgender icon may have attracted unwanted scrutiny from authorities.
“It seems things have changed. “It may have been the earlier shift to a more liberal environment that was the problem,” said Sam Winter, associate professor at an Australian university.
Jin himself expressed confusion over the cancellation. In an interview with France 24, she said that she has been performing throughout China for four decades without any problems. “Even today, I’m still questioning why that is,” she said, referencing recent cancellations.
After his Guangzhou show was cancelled, he took the unusual step of criticizing the authorities in a now-deleted Weibo post. “Please do not abuse your public power!” He wrote demanding an explanation for the decision.
Such direct challenges are rare and risky for Chinese officials. Guangzhou’s Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism denied any misconduct, attributing the cancellation to incomplete paperwork.
Some social media users have speculated that Jin’s use of the rainbow flag during the first performance may have provoked a backlash. The rainbow flag, a global symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, is viewed with suspicion by Chinese authorities.
Jin’s success story has long been a source of hope for China’s LGBTQ+ community. She has broken boundaries in a country where gender-affirming surgery is expensive and difficult to access. “I am myself and only represent myself. I will always be Jin Jing and it has nothing to do with gender,” she wrote on Weibo.
The LGBTQ+ community in China is facing increasing challenges. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997 and removed from the country’s list of mental disorders in 2001. Yet under President Xi Jinping, authorities have stepped up social controls.
Pride events have been banned, support groups have been disbanded, and films with gay themes have been censored. Activists have faced police harassment, and online discussion of LGBTQ+ issues remains strictly controlled.