ONLINE FIRST
published on February 17, 2021
Xinzhang Zhang, James R. Lewis
https://doi.org/10.5840/jrv202121679
The Gods Hate Fags
Falun Gong¡¯s Reactionary Social Teachings
In the ongoing struggle between Falun Gong and the Chinese state, Li Hongzhi¡¯s reactionary social teachings are often mentioned in passing, but not examined in a systematic fashion. The present paper makes a preliminary effort in that direction, surveying Li¡¯s homophobic, anti-miscegenist, anti-feminist et cetera pronouncements. On the one hand, these teachings often work at cross purposes with the movement¡¯s efforts to garner support and to portray itself as the innocent victim of the Chinese state. On the other hand, the harshness of Li Hongzhi¡¯s frequent pronouncements against gays, race-mixing and the like turn away potential supporters and provide critics with an abundant reservoir from which to fashion anti-Falun Gong discourse.