China hears first transgender discrimination case
‘Mr C’, 28, who was born a woman, says he went to court seeking apology and compensation after reportedly being fired from medical services company because he dressed like a man
A Chinese arbitration panel hearing into what is believed to be the country’s first transgender employment discrimination case was held on Monday, says a lawyer in the case.
Huang Sha said his client, identified only as Mr C, 28, had gone to court in the southern city of Guiyang to seek compensation and an apology after being fired from his job at a medical services company because, although born a woman, he had dressed like a man.
The case was held amid a growing awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in China, where society and the government have generally frowned on non-traditional expressions of gender and sexuality.
While homosexuality is not illegal in China, the country’s LGBT movement is still in its infancy and it is rare for same-sex couples to live openly as such.
On Wednesday, a court in the central city of Changsha is scheduled to hold a hearing in the country’s first same-sex marriage case.
The couple are suing the local government for refusing to register their marriage despite a lack of any stipulation that they must be of the opposite gender.