A Chinese court has accepted the legal action filed by a gay man in Hunan province against a civil affairs bureau for not recognizing his right to marry.
Voice of America News reported that Sun Wenlin, 26, filed the lawsuit on December 16 naming Furong district civil affairs bureau in Changsha as the defendant. The case stemmed when the bureau rejected Sun's marriage application with his partner.
The source also mentioned Sun's argument stating that the present Chinese marriage law rests on the idea that a person can identify as a husband or a wife without reference to their gender. Sun is confident he will win the case saying "Our marriage law says there is the freedom to marry and gender equality."
The Court has accepted the lawsuit on Tuesday and is expected to give a ruling in the next six months, according to Ej Insight.
The court's decision to recognize the case is being hailed as a step to deal with discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the site noted. Although homosexuality is accepted in China, same-sex marriage is frowned upon and same sex couples have no legal protections.
Maya Wang, a China researcher at New York-based group Human Rights Watch said that if the case is successful, it will be a "watershed moment for LGBT rights in China," as quoted by Ej Insight.
GCO New wrote in their site that the court's acceptance to hear the lawsuit is a sign of changing attitude of China concerning gay marriage. The country has become more open-minded towards homosexuality.
GCO New held that despite heavy pressure, more and more educated urban Chinese have begun exposing their homosexuality in recent years. The gay dating app Blued has estimated that China is home to 13 million gay men, and it is confirmed currently with its three million users. Also, Internet giant Alibaba paid for ten same-sex couples to get married in California, as part of a contest that would help promote LGBT rights.
Sun's lawsuit will be heard within six months and is considered as important step for gay rights.
