Same-sex marriage — Russian style

After seeing the success of same-sex couples of getting the right to marry in many jurisdictions in the United States, their counterparts in other nations are also attempting to get this right.

For example, in Russia, two women are attempting to become the first same-sex Russian couple to be legally married.  They attempted to obtain the necessary permit to marry in Moscow but were turned down because Article 12 of the Family Codex requires that a marriage have the mutual and voluntary agreement of an opposite-sex couple.

The couple plans to appeal this decision.  However, they also plan to travel to Canada to get married.

See Michael Schwirtz, In Moscow, an Attempt to Wed Pushes Gay Rights, NY Times, May 12, 2009.