Russia: Judge Dismisses Lesbian Couple's Canadian Marriage

Two Russian lesbians on Thursday lost their bid to have their marriage in Canada recognized by a Moscow court, after a judge dismissed their argument that Russian law recognizes foreign marriages. Public relations worker Irina Fyet, 30, and beauty parlor owner Irina Shepitko, 32, married in Toronto in October after an application for a marriage license in Moscow was rejected on the grounds that such a union must be between a man and a woman. The couple are the first gay pair to attempt to get a marriage license in Russia. "I will have to uphold the decision made by the registry office in May. Foreign marriages accepted in Russia must involve a couple of opposite sex," judge Boris Gerbekov ruled. Full Story from Reuters

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Russia: The New Gay Activism

It may be the Day of Silence, but the two hundred or so people in Valery Sozaev’s office are anything but. There is a buzz of nervous excitement. We’re about to march down Nevsky Prospect, St Petersburg’s main street, with tape over our mouths, handing out flyers calling for an end to homophobia. “It’s important to show people that activism exists,” says Irina, a marcher who didn’t give her last name. “But it’s a risk in Russia. I think people are very nervous.” As it turns out, they have reason to be. Our rally permit has been denied, allegedly due to construction in our path. “Cunning, very cunning,” mutters Anton Smolev, a social studies teacher. Full Story from Capital Xtra: http://www.xtra.ca/public/Ottawa/The_new_Russian_queer_activism-7921.aspx

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Russian Lesbian Couple to Marry in Toronto Today

Two lesbians denied the right to marry in their native Russia were set to circumvent national laws Friday by getting married in Toronto. Irina Shipitko, 32, and Irina Fedotova-Fet, 30, told the Toronto Star through an interpreter two requests for a marriage license in Moscow were denied in May. Russia's Family Code only allows for male-female marriages, so the pair decided to have a city hall wedding in Toronto and then use other Russian laws to validate their union, the report said. Full Story from UPI: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2009/10/23/Russian-lesbians-travel-to-Toronto-to-wed/UPI-38211256309256/

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European Human Rights Court to Hear Russia Gay Pride Case

The European Court of Human Rights has combined cases stemming from Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s bans on gay-pride events in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and instructed Russian authorities to file a response by Jan. 20. “Our actions and pressure finally made them move,” said plaintiff Nikolai Alekseev. “It means that in one year we should have a decision.” In February, Alekseev and others picketed the court demanding that the cases be prioritized. “This case is about a systematic denial of freedom of assembly for LGBT people in Russia since 2006,” Alekseev said. “But it goes beyond the LGBT borders and will help all human rights defenders and political groups as it will force Russia to change its law on demonstrations and public events.” “We hope to have a decision before the fifth Moscow Pride scheduled for May 29, 2010,” he said. “Justice always comes, it’s only a matter of time.” Full Story from Bay Times: http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=11663

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To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Russian Court Denies Lesbian Couple Marriage

A Russian lesbian couple have been barred from marrying by a court. The Tverskoi District Court ruled that Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko cannot marry as Russia law states marriage is between a man and a woman. The district court was upholding an earlier ruling by the city's civil registry. The couple had tried to marry in May but had been turned away. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/06/russian-court-denies-lesbians-the-right-to-marry/

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.