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Lesbian couple sues safari park after discount only applies to ‘a man and a woman’
- One of the women said her relationship did not justify discrimination
- A high-level district court is now taking the lawsuit in Shanghai
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Phoebe Zhangin Shenzhen
A lesbian couple sued the Chimelong Safari Park, a zoo in China’s megacity Guangzhou, and online travel giant Ctrip after they were barred from using a discount package offered for couples.
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The lawsuit exemplifies the lack of official recognition for LGBT couples, despite a growing acceptance of the community among Chinese society.
The lawsuit was accepted at the Shanghai Changning district court, one of China’s top courts, last week because the two sides could not settle the case. Chimelong did not respond to the South China Morning Post’s interview requests.
The couple, who went to the park on May 21, the unofficial Valentine’s Day in China, said they had bought a “couple’s package” from the park, which was supposed to offer a discount of 90 yuan (US$14).
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When they went to the park, they were denied entry and told they were not allowed to use the couple’s package because the discount was only meant for “a man and a woman”.
In protest, the couple refused to leave. When they complained to customer service, they were referred to the company’s administrative department.
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