Censorship refers to suppression or modification of speech, communication, artistic expression, or access to information, on the basis that it is deemed harmful, objectionable, or sensitive. Throughout history, governments and private institutions have censored forms of arts and media for various reasons, including political, religious, moral, social, cultural, economic, legal, and military ones. These restrictions can be direct or indirect, formal or informal, physical or virtual, and may involve sanctions or penalties. Censorship affects people's freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, hindering them from learning, sharing ideas, creating works, and participating fully in society. Heteronormativity refers to the assumption that heterosexuality is normal and natural, while anything else is abnormal or unnatural, thus implying queerness as deviation from the norm. This notion has been reinforced through censorship practices in arts and media throughout history. In this article, we will explore how historical censorship practices have controlled queer expression and promoted heteronormativity.
Throughout history, most cultures considered same-sex relationships taboo and deviant, often criminalizing them. As a result, many societies have imposed strict censorship rules on any form of sexual representation, either explicit or implicit, whether in literature, film, television, music, theater, visual art, etc.
Ancient Greeks banned homoeroticism, which was widely practiced among men, by outlawing sexual acts between males and prohibiting representations of naked male bodies. Similarly, Medieval Europe persecuted sodomy, which included both homosexual behavior and bestiality. During the Middle Ages, Christian church leaders denounced any form of pleasure-seeking activity as sinful and condemned all forms of eroticism as corrupting. Therefore, they censored and destroyed books, manuscripts, artworks, and performances that depicted non-heterosexual activities, even if it did not involve actual sex.
Some Renaissance artists challenged this repression by portraying sensuous male bodies, but their works were mostly confined within private circles due to social pressures and legal restrictions.
During the 19th century, several European countries liberalized laws against same-sex relations, allowing people who identified themselves as "homosexuals" to openly express their desires. Still, these laws remained vague, leading to ambiguities and inconsistencies about what constituted a crime. In addition, governments continued to suppress queer expression through censorship practices, including obscenity laws and moral codes.
In Victorian England, Oscar Wilde's play 'Salome,' depicting a lesbian relationship, was banned because it was considered immoral and offensive to public decency. Similarly, in Germany, Nazi authorities burned thousands of books by writers and artists deemed "decadent," such as gay German poet Stefan George or bisexual Austrian writer Christine Lavant. Despite progress towards sexual liberation in Western cultures after World War II, homophobia persisted, with many countries maintaining discriminatory policies and censorship rules until today. These include Russia, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Uganda, among others.