Russian court blocks same-sex wedding

A lawyer for twowomen seeking to become Russian's first legally marriedsame-sex couple said Tuesday they will fight a Moscow court decision that blocked their marriage.

Earlier in the day, the Tverskoi District Court ruled against Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko when it upheld the decision of the city's civil registry that Russian law stipulates marriage is between a manand a woman.

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

Shipitko said she and Fedotova-Fet want recognition of their 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."

The two women plan totravelin October to Canada, wheresame-sex marriages are legal, totie the knotand then return to Russia. They hope that will force Russian authorities to recognize the marriage.

Russia decriminalized homosexuality in the 1990s, but there is outspoken opposition to the expansion of gay rights.