Russian lesbians travel to Toronto to wed

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TORONTO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Two lesbians denied the right to marry in their native Russia were set to circumvent national laws Friday by getting married in Toronto.

Irina Shipitko, 32, and Irina Fedotova-Fet, 30, told the Toronto Star through an interpreter two requests for a marriage license in Moscow were denied in May.

Russia's Family Code only allows for male-female marriages, so the pair decided to have a city hall wedding in Toronto and then use other Russian laws to validate their union, the report said.

The women said Russian law does recognize international marriages regardless of genders, and when they return home Tuesday will seek official recognition.

They said if they are denied recognition, they will file a complaint with the European Human Rights Commission.

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov banned gay pride parades in 2006, the Star said.