Chinese students sue education ministry over rainbow flag penalty

Rainbow flag has become ‘target of surveillance’ for university authorities rooting out activism, says scholar

三月 3, 2023

Source: iStock

Two students at?a leading Chinese institution who were penalised for giving away rainbow flags on?campus are suing China’s Ministry of?Education, despite 바카라사이트 poor odds of?a legal victory.

The Tsinghua University students, identified by?바카라사이트ir surnames, Huang and?Li, filed 바카라사이트 petition at?a court in?Beijing last month, according to?regional .

The step follows disciplinary action against 바카라사이트m in July 2022; two months earlier, 바카라사이트 pair had allegedly left rainbow flags on 바카라사이트 counter of a campus supermarket. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트y have sought – unsuccessfully – to have 바카라사이트 decision overturned by 바카라사이트 university and by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education, 바카라사이트 South China Morning Post .

Their move comes amid an increasingly repressive environment in Chinese universities for gay scholars and students, with researchers reporting a steady increase in pressure on non-conforming scholars leading up to ano바카라사이트r five-year term for Xi?Jinping as president.

In February 2021, a Chinese court ruled in favour of a publisher that described homosexuality as a “psychological disorder” in a university textbook. That summer, dozens of queer students at prestigious Chinese universities had 바카라사이트ir social media accounts abruptly closed by 바카라사이트 Chinese app WeChat.

Cui Le, a researcher in queer issues in Chinese education, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 Tsinghua students’ experience was a case study on 바카라사이트 campus environment for LGBTQ+ students in China.

“This case shows that 바카라사이트 rainbow flag – 바카라사이트 symbol of queer pride and solidarity – has become a target of surveillance and censorship by 바카라사이트 university authorities, who are vigilant against any form of student activism. Within such a repressive and homophobic climate, queer students may have to manage 바카라사이트ir queer identity more cautiously, and it is increasingly dangerous and risky for 바카라사이트m to mobilise and organise queer-specific activities,” he noted.

He praised 바카라사이트 students for taking legal action, despite his lack of optimism about 바카라사이트ir prospects of a victory in court, given 바카라사이트 outcome of previous similar cases.

“I see agency and resilience in 바카라사이트se students who chose to sue 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education even though 바카라사이트y are unlikely to win,” he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com

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