Novel case about pornography, not prejudice

Editor's note: Some Western media outlets have said the recent sentencing of novelist Tian Yi, who has earned about 150,000 yuan ($21,610) from the sales of about 7,000 copies of her novels including those with gay sex content, shows China's discriminatory attitude toward gay people. Such claims are misleading. But how should we view the debate sparked by the case? Three experts share their opinions on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

Judicial explanations should be upgraded

Tian Yi, the author of a dozen or so erotic novels, some with gay sex content, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on Oct 31 on the charge of creating and selling pornography. The jail term triggered an outcry on social media this week, attracting the attention of netizens at home and abroad. Some activists even claim Tian Yi's sentence shows China's intolerance of homosexuality, which is ridiculous.