The MARRIAGE (IN)EQUALITY project was prepared as part of an advocacy campaign aimed at lobbying for the adoption of bill No. 9103 “On the Institute of Registered Partnerships” in Ukraine. This bill would allow LGBTQ+ couples to have some of the rights that heterosexual couples have after marriage. For example, they would have equal rights in matters related to property, inheritance, insurance, pensions, medical care, and other important aspects of life.
The MARRIAGE (IN)EQUALITY is a short video art which transports us to an imaginary world where heterosexual couples cannot legalise their relationships. The events take place during the war in Ukraine, which exacerbates the problems faced by couples – the inability to arrange guardianship for their children or to visit an injured partner in the hospital. Some of the characters are representatives of the LGBTQ+ community, who tell their authentic stories at the end of the video.
The project was presented at Open Eye Gallery by director Yuriy Dvizhon and art director Aleh Razhkou, followed by a panel discussion on the theme of “Power of art in advocacy”. The panel discussion explored the role of art in transforming society. Can art projects influence laws? How to achieve a successful advocacy campaign through art? Can the experience of art activists from one country be useful to representatives of another, and how to achieve synergy on the global stage?
Yuriy Dvizhon is a film director, creative producer, LGBTQ, and HIV activist from Ukraine who communicates with his audience using art videos and films. Aleh Razhkou, Cultural Projects Director from Belarus now residing in London, is passionate about exploring xenophobia and the pathways to its eradication through his latest works. He places a special emphasis on the recognition and acceptance of the queer community in society.
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