It is rare to see human rights debated openly in China but the case of Xiao Ma has proven to be a fascinating exception. Not only was Ma the first transgender person in China to sue an employer for gender discrimination but the lack of precedent in her case meant her lawyer used a transgender celebrity — who is widely known and accepted in China — as an example in her defence. After waiting months for her day in court Ma, who transitioned from male to female in 2018, had her open trial heard in the city of Hangzhou last week. It was a test case for equal rights in the workplace.