A lesbian woman in China is suing the ministry of education over books that call homosexuality a “psychological disorder”, in a case accepted by a Beijing court.

The legal bid is the third attempt by a Guangdong student, who uses the pseudonym Qiu Bai, to take action against the ministry.

The 21-year-old turned to academic textbooks after becoming confused about her sexuality in her first year at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou. She said she became angry when she discovered homosexuality was referred to as an illness.

“Textbooks should at least describe homosexuality with objectivity,” she told Chinese website Sixth Tone.

“I don’t want discrimination permeating the school I live in and the materials I use every day,”

Homosexuality has been legal in China since 1997 and was removed from the list of mental illnesses in 2001, yet discrimination against LGBT people remains widespread and same-sex couples cannot marry in China - despite the law being challenged in the courts.

It comes days after a man launched a lawsuit against a Chinese mental hospital where he claims he was tied to a bed, beaten and force-fed drugs as part of “conversion therapy”.

His wife reportedly took him there in the hope he could be "cured".

Ms Qiu was persuaded to drop her first lawsuit after the ministry told her she could pursue the issue through a complaint process. But letters from more than 80 students did not get a response. Her second lawsuit failed after a court ruled the university’s lack of response had not infringed her rights.

LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russia’s antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT “propaganda” allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this ‘crime’ since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty

The current lawsuit makes the case that "as a current university student, the plaintiff has a direct interest in the textbook materials".

Ms Qiu says her parents do not respect her sexuality.

“They still cannot accept that I’m a lesbian, and what I advocate,” she told Sixth Tone.