Beijing: University of Queensland student Ting Ting Liu watched the watershed moment unfold in her homeland, China, online.

When Sina Weibo, the massive Chinese social media platform, suddenly banned gay content on Friday, the reaction from China’s smartphone generation - and their parents - was swift. Millions of Chinese internet users came out in support of their gay and lesbian friends and family with the hashtag #Iamahomosexual. By Monday, the ban was dropped.

Sina Weibo, with a market capitalisation of US$25 billion ($32 billion), and a wary eye on the ruling communist party’s strict censorship and intolerance of spiritual pollution, had bowed to the people. In a statement posted on Monday afternoon, the company said it would stop targeting gay content. “Thank you for your discussion and suggestions,” the statement said.

Liu was an LGBT activist in China for a decade before moving to Australia to study for a PhD in digital technology and sexuality. She hosted a pioneering online radio program, LesTalk, allowing Chinese people to talk about queer identity without coming out publicly. She said it was one of the first broadcast programs for Chinese lesbians or "lala" and provided information and consolation to many lonely lalas. She also founded a lesbian group offering counselling, film festivals and gatherings in southern China.

“A lot has happened in the last few days,” she said.