Russian Court Denies Marriage Request to Lesbian Couple

A Moscow court ruled against two lesbians seeking to become Russia's first legally married gay couple Tuesday, reports the AP.

The court threw out Irina Fet and Irina Shipitko's request for a registry office to marry them. The couple had asked the Tverskoi district court to overrule a decision by a registry office, which refused to endorse their marriage in May. The Russian law describes a marriage as a "union between a woman and a man."

"We want recognition of our relationship by society and the state. We are a family already, we live together and share household chores," Shipitko said. "We also would like to have children. That is why we want legal recognition of our union."

Nikolai Alexeyev, a longtime Russian gay rights activist who is also the women's lawyer, said that they plan to fight the ruling. "We understand quite well that it is a long road that must be taken before such unions will be recognized. But I have no doubt this recognition will come," he said.

The two women said they planned to fly to Canada on October 23 to marry and then return to Russia, in an attempt to help authorities recognize the marriage.

Since the 1990's Homosexuality is no longer a criminal offense in Russia, but there is very little public support for gay rights. The city of Moscow has never allowed a gay pride parade or rights demonstration, which the mayor has called "satanic."