Chinese censors order gay dating apps be pulled from stores: Apple

Chinese officials ordered the removal of two popular gay dating apps from mobile stores in the country, Apple confirmed to AFP on Tuesday.

Same-sex marriage is not legal in China and discrimination remains widespread, with activists saying an effort to suppress LGBTQ expression has expanded in recent years, particularly under President Xi Jinping.

Over the weekend, Chinese social media users pointed out that the full versions of apps Blued and Finka, which share a Hong Kong-based owner, had disappeared from the Apple and Android stores.