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Judge rules against couple in first same-sex marriage lawsuit in China Gerry Shih , The Associated Press Published Tuesday, April 12, 2016 11:56PM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, April 13, 2016 2:17AM EDT CHANGSHA, China - A judge on Wednesday ruled against a gay couple in China's first same-sex marriage case that attracted several hundred cheering supporters to the courthouse and was seen as a landmark moment for the country's emerging LGBT rights movement. The court in the central city of Changsha dismissed the suit brought against the local civil affairs bureau for refusing to issue the couple a marriage registration certificate. The couple's lawyer Shi Fulong said he expected the judge would rule against them but not so soon - within just a few hours. "It goes against the spirit of the laws of the people's republic of China," Shi said. Plaintiff Sun Wenlin said he would appeal until he exhausts all legal options. The lawsuit comes amid 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. China doesn't legally recognize same- sex marriage and officials with the central government have said they do not see the law changing soon.