China’s LGBTQ community has long had to deal with not only societal prejudice but also pressure from the state: censorship, surveillance and intimidation, at times even detention by police. During the early 2000s, though, it looked like things might be changing. Gay clubs flourished in big cities and community groups sprang up to offer social services. These days, the feeling has faded. While it’s difficult to point to any direct crackdown, the reality is that over the past decade it’s become tougher to be gay in China. That’s seen as a consequence of a broader push by President Xi Jinping to mold a more conservative, conformist China.