On Wednesday, a judge ruled against a gay couple in China's first same-sex marriage case. The dismissal of the suit was seen as a landmark moment in the country's uprising LGBT rights movement.
According to DNA India, a court in the city of Changsha dismissed the lawsuit, which was brought against the local civil affairs bureau for denying to issue the couple a marriage registration certificate. Although the defense lawyer of the couple expected the judge to rule against them, he didn't expect the ruling to be made just within a few hours.
Plaintiff Sun Wenlin told the press that he would appeal until he exhausts all legal options. Wenlin's lawsuit comes amid increasing awareness of LGBT issues in China, where the government and the society have generally frowned on non-traditional expressions of sexuality and gender.
The government of China does not legally recognize same-sex marriage. The majority of the officials in the central government has said that they do not see the law changing soon, reports Seattle Times.
The gay couple and the lawyer entered Changsha's Furong District courthouse on Wednesday morning. The couple were greeted with cheers from about 300 supporters, some of which waited outside since 4am or traveled overnight from neighboring provinces. Officials in the courthouse allowed an approximately 100 spectators and pleaded with zealous college students that they were at capacity and had to turn other supporters away.
ABC News reported that the police had earlier visited Sun Wenlin at the apartment to try to persuade him not to continue the lawsuit, but left after he exhibited his determination and passion for pressing forward with the case. Sun is hopeful that he can pave the way as far and wide as possible so that people who want to do the same will see how much they have tried and what possibilities there are.
While China does not recognize homosexuality as illegal, the nation's LGBT movement is still in its infancy period. It is also very rare for same-sex couples to come out in the open.
