Husband and wife with same looks
By: Team Ifairer | Posted: 09-09-2014
Heart It
Meet Alison Brooks (on the left), who married Alina Davis (right). How is this possible in a country where same-sex weddings are banned, violence against homosexuals is on the rise, and homosexuality was only declassified as a mental illness in 1999.
Actually, the 23-year-old Alina was born a man named Dmitry Kozhukhov. She labels herself as 'androgyne,' which means she doesn't fit neatly into one gender identity, goes around wearing women's clothes every day, but because her birth certificate lists her as a man, the Russian authorities couldn't refuse them their marriage certificate or their right to marry.
We had no problems when we handed in the application to the registry office although we had expected a complaint or something but they didn't say anything,' Davis said.
Davis thinks this is a big moment for couples in Russia. 'We are not alone in having such problems,' she says. 'I have written to couples who are planning similar marriages and are afraid of failures with registration. Be aware you cannot be refused.