China: Judge rules against couple in first same-sex marriage case

In China's first same-sex marriage case, a judge has ruled out against a gay couple.

On Wednesday, a court in the city of Changsha dismissed the suit "brought against the local civil affairs bureau for refusing to issue the couple a marriage registration certificate", according to AP.

While the couple's lawyer Shi Funong, expected the judge to rule against them, he didn't expect it be within just a few hours. However, Sun Wenlin, the plaintiff  said he will appeal until he exhausts all legal options.

The lawsuit comes at a time when there is more awareness of LGBT issues about China, in a society where the government has frowned on non-traditional expressions of gender and sexuality. China doesn't legally recognise same-sex marriage and central government officials don't see the law changing soon.