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Court refuses to let gay couple wed in China
Court refuses to let gay couple wed in China's first same-sex marriage lawsuit
- Court in Changsha, China's Henan Province, ruled against the couple today
- The pair say they will appeal until they exhaust all legal options
- They were refused a marriage licence from government in June 2015
- Hundreds turned out to wait outside in support for the couple
One wish to marry: Su Wenlin (right) sits with his partner Hu Mingliang (left) a day before they head to court
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A judge has ruled against a gay couple in China's first same-sex marriage case.
The court in the city of Changsha, central China's Henan Province today threw out the suit against the local civil affairs bureau that refused to issue the couple a marriage registration certificate.
The couple say they will appeal until they exhaust all legal options.
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First for China: Sun Wenlin (right) and his partner Hu Mingliang leave court after a judge ruled against them
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26-year-old Sun Wenlin and 37-year-old Hu Mingliang had been together over a year when they decided to register their marriage with Changsha City Furong District Civil Affairs Bureau.
However on June 23, 2015, Changsha's marriage bureau refused saying that only a man and a woman can get married. At that point Sun Wenlin decided to take legal action.
Sun says after coming out to his parents, it took time for them to come to terms with their son being gay however they have been fully supportive of his decision to take legal action.
Sun Wenlin's mother told reporters from Huanqiu: 'No matter how much discrimination about being gay my son receives, I will stand with him fully.'
China doesn't legally recognise same-sex marriage and the country's central government say they do not see the law changing any time soon.
On hearing the news, Zhao Xing, 35, a Shanghai-based LGBT columnist, told MailOnline: 'I don't expect China to legalise same-sex marriage anytime soon.'
He added: 'Same-sex relationship is outside the core value of the generation that is running China's government.
'Perhaps the situation will change when a younger generation enters the political stage as the generation born in the 80s and 90s are much more open, accepting and worldly. Homosexuality is no taboo or anything strange to this generation of people.'
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Sun Welin (left) and his partner (right) talk to journalists after the judge rules against them on April 13
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Charlene Liu, co-founder of ShanghaiPRIDE told MailOnline: 'The ruling wasn't unexpected. We don't think there will be any drastic changes any time soon, but having the court agree to accept this case does open the door for possible changes.
It is exciting that individuals are challenging current marriage laws for their own rights.Driving focus surrounding same-sex marriage is already a significant progress which the LGBTQ community and organizations should continue to do. It takes time but we believe there are opportunities.'
The lawsuit comes amid growing awareness of LGBT issues in China where society and the government have generally frowned on 'non-traditional' expressions of gender and sexuality.
In March, the country's State Administration for Regulation of Films and Television announced a clampdown on 'homosexual content'.
According to Global Times, a document issued by the China Television Production Drama Production Industry announced that production companies are not allowed to screen any content relating to homosexuality.
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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peop...e-lawsuit.html
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