A gay man in China has successfully lodged a case against a civil affairs office for not allowing him to marry his partner, a first in the country’s history.

26-year-old Sun Wenlin’s case is being lauded as a watershed moment for LGBTIQ rights in China, where same-sex marriages are not legal.

“I think from a legal point of view, we should be successful,” Sun told Reuters.

“Our marriage law says there is the freedom to marry and gender equality. These words can be applied to same-sex marriage.”

Mr Sun attempted to marry his male partner in China’s Furong district, where he was denied on the basis of their sexuality. Sun’s case has been accepted by a Changsha court – the capital of Hunan province.

Though homosexuality is not illegal in China, it was only delisted as a mental disorder in 2001. LGBTIQ activist Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch says Chinese courts often dismiss politically sensitive cases, so there mere acceptance of this case is a step forward.

“We will need to see if they actually win the case. If they do, it’d be a truly watershed moment for LGBT rights in China,” she said.

OIP Staff