All of the footage of Freddie Mercury kissing men will be removed from the film in order for the film to get a country-wide release in China.
The movie already received considerable pushback for "straightwashing" Mercury's character, including very few references to his bisexuality or the fact that he contracted HIV/AIDS.
This led several to joke that China will basically releasing the movie "as it already is."
But the worst part about all of this is China's continued treatment of LGBTQ people.
Homosexuality has been "legal" in China since 1997 and in 2001 homosexuality was no longer classified as a mental illness.
However, there are no anti-discrimination laws in place. Because of this, LGBTQ people struggle with not knowing if their sexual orientation or gender identity will get them arrested on a daily basis.
Censorship rules in China still apply to LGBTQ content.
Mango TV, the streaming service which showed the Oscars to China at large, censored Malek's acceptance speech when they replaced the term "gay man" with "special group" in its subtitles.
Introduction to China's LGBT in 4 minutes
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Since being gay in China is an uphill battle, this announcement is hardly surprising.
But an international straight-washing of a queer icon and bisexual erasure once again?
Only in 2019, folks.
Only in 2019.
