Arts & Entertainment
China to release ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with LGBT content censored
An estimated one minute of footage will be cut
“Bohemian Rhapsody” will be given a limited release in China staring mid-March but the film will be censored for LGBT and drug content.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, footage of Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) kissing other men will be removed from the film. Scenes depicting drug use will also be edited out of the film. Overall, an estimated one minute of footage will be cut.
Although the film will be on a limited release, if the movie is popular enough it could receive a wide release.
The news comes after China censored Rami Malek’s acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.
“We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself,” Malek told the audience.
In the translation subtitles, a China-based live streaming website switched the words “a gay man” to “a special group.”
China does not have an official policy on LGBT content in media but LGBT content is frequently edited out of TV shows and films.
The Beijing International Film Festival had scheduled a screening of “Call Me By Your Name” but the film’s screening was canceled.
However, China did allow “Beauty and the Beast” to be screened in the country in 2017 with a “gay moment” between LeFou and Gaston.
The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
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