On May 16, one day ahead of the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, ten rights lawyers petitioned a key National People's Congress commission, calling for the legitimization of same-sex marriage on the mainland.
According to statistics, the gay community accounts for around 4-6% of the global population, or about 40 million homosexuals in China. However, due to their lack of legal protection and rights many are choosing to hide their identity or even marry someone of the opposite sex just to comply to social norms.
The ten lawyers involved in the petition represent law firms from across China. "The most effective way to eliminate discrimination against homosexuality is to acknowledge same-sex couples' rights to marriage," said Huang Yizhi, one of two female Beijing lawyers who organised the campaign.
See also: Elderly Gay Couple Tie the Knot in Beijing
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Keywords: gay marriage in China
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