Updated

Several hundred gay rights supporters have gathered outside a court in central China for the country's first same-sex marriage lawsuit, a landmark moment for gay rights in China.

The lawsuit being heard Wednesday by the court in the city of Changsha Wednesday was filed by the 26-year-old Sun Wenlin. He is suing the city's civil affairs bureau after the government office rejected his application to register his marriage to his partner Hu Mingliang.

Sun, Hu and their lawyer entered the Furong District courthouse amid cheers from roughly 300 supporters, some of whom had waited outside since 5 a.m. or traveled overnight from neighboring provinces.

Court officials turned away hundreds after letting in 100 spectators and pled with fervent college students to understand that they were at capacity.