Or that’s how it appears… The happy couple, Irina Shumilova and Alyona Fursova, were only allowed to marry because one of them used to be a man. So whilst some of you may be thinking – at last Russia are being more lenient, think again. It’s actually worse than you may think. Not only are lesbians who are both born woman not allowed to marry; transgender people are not recognised.
Furthermore, Vitaly Milonov, a Russian legislator, would now like to have the marriage annulled. This will open a whole new can of worms for the system. If this marriage is annulled it will prove that they are both women and therefore recognise her as transsexual. However, it the marriage is maintained, then some may say they have allowed a lesbian marriage. This proves the preposterous state of their laws, as it once again leading them to a route in which they have no desire to understand or support.
So whilst I am happy for this co uple (as long as they are allowed to remain married), I am sad to say that things are clearly not getting better for the LGBT community in Russia.
Photo Alyona Fursova (VK.com)