An activist and a soldier “married” in Kharkiv. PHOTO
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The “wedding” of two women took place in Kharkiv – military officer Alina Shevchenko and activist Stanislava Petlytsa. The entire ceremony took place in the format of a performance, Kharkiv Pride reports. Alina Shevchenko comes from Kharkiv Oblast. She is the captain and staff officer of the brigade. She is 31 years old. He has been serving since 2015 – first mobilization, and then a contract. She spent a lot of time in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He says that there are no short stories of self-acceptance and the path to identity awareness. “After all, we are all born in a prejudiced society where heterosexuality and patriarchy are actively imposed. And you struggle in this ocean of imposed normality until you find your island of comfort and understand why most islands are not suitable for you,” Alina shares for NGO Military LGBT+. Photo: Kharkiv Pride She also said that her mother supported her in her choice. It was she who helped to “accept myself”. According to her, everyone in the team also knows about her orientation. “What’s more, everyone knows about our engagement with my beloved. I probably already bragged about the ring and my status to everyone,” says Alina. Photo: Kharkiv Pride Her partner is Kharkiv activist Stanislava, who is engaged in the protection of the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people and is a member of the Kharkiv Pride team. The wedding ceremony was held according to a traditional Ukrainian ceremony on Sumska Street in Kharkiv. Oats, wheat, rice, petals, etc. were sprinkled there. Throwing bouquets was an integral part. Photo: Kharkiv Pride After that, the bride and groom walked around the city and took pictures with the guests. They also attached a lock as a sign of a strong relationship – and perhaps an official marriage. Today, Alina and Stanislava cannot formalize their relationship properly. In Ukraine, there is still no marriage equality for all couples in love. In May 2023, a bill on civil partnerships was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, which should allow for the registration of same-sex marriages and settle this issue. Read also: 67% of Ukrainians support equal rights for the LGBT community – survey
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