A man surnamed Sun (L) advocates the legalization of same-sex marriage with his partner. [China News Service]

A homosexual man sued the local government agency in central China's Hunan Province last week over the right to marry, the China News Service reported yesterday.

This is China's first lawsuit over same-sex marriage rights.

The man surnamed Sun filed a lawsuit on December 16 against the Civil Affairs Department of Furong District in Changsha City for refusing to issue him a marriage license with his partner.

According to Sun, when he went to the Civil Affairs Department with his partner on June 23, an official refused to issue them a marriage license and claimed "only a man and woman can get married."

In the General Provisions of China's Marriage Laws, it is stipulated that a marriage system is based on the free choice of partners, on monogamy and with equality between man and woman. This means that both man and woman enjoy the equal right of marrying a man, Sun argued.

The local court has received Sun's lawsuit application, but hasn't decided on whether to accept the case.

So far, no same-sex marriage application has been approved in China. Li Yinhe, a well-known Chinese sexologist and an activist for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, has made several proposals to the nation's top legislature on allowing for same-sex marriage since 2000, but none of the proposals were passed.

(Source: china.org.cn)

By Chen XiaEditor: Eileen Cheng（china.org.cn）