Same-Sex Marriage Legalized In Russia, As Long As You’re A British National

Same-sex marriage became legal in England in March of this year, and now the British government is spreading the love worldwide to some unlikely places.

The Foreign Office has opened its consulate doors in places like Russia, Azerbaijan, Serbia and Hungary (along with 19 other countries that don’t allow gay marriage) to same-sex British nationals who want to tie the knot.

Former Foreign office minister and openly gay Labour MP Chris Bryant said:

“Part of the Foreign Office’s job is to export British values abroad. Just as people have been able to perform civil partnerships in countries like Australia, Russia and Iran, so now they can get married.

Russia is meant to be a signatory top the European Convention of human rights. I hope that when they start seeing gay and lesbian couples getting married in the British consulate in Moscow they will celebrate rather than denigrate and persecute.

There are many countries in the world where there is prejudice and active persecution against LGBT people. All too often the state and the church is complicit.”

Of course, once the happy newlyweds step out of the consulates their unions won’t be recognized in the countries they live in, but hey, it’s still a pretty badass gesture to be handing out gay marriage licenses in the middle of Moscow.

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Take that, Putin.

The full list of countries where British consulates are offering same-sex marriages is:

Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Vietnam.