In an in-depth interview with Irina Skibenko, fashion historian Alexander Vasilyev discussed how the geopolitical crisis and new social norms are changing the lives of emigrants. One of the topics of the conversation was the situation of the LGBT community in the modern world—from using marriage to obtain citizenship to the historical roots of “non-traditional” relationships.
According to Vasilyev, amid mass emigration from CIS countries, many are looking for ways to legally settle in Europe. One such way is marriage, and the fashion historian notes the growing popularity of same-sex unions in countries where they are recognized at the state level.
"LGBT marriages are now very common in Europe and are recognized in many countries—not in Poland, but in others. And I’ve heard of a great many people who have done just that: they’ve found a husband or a wife of the same sex and are trying to use that to maintain their legal status in the country.”, — said Vasilyev.
Vasilyev emphasized that the ability to legalize a relationship is important not only for immigration procedures but also for protecting the rights of the couple. He cites the inability to pass on an inheritance to a partner in the absence of legal recognition of the union as one of the most pressing issues.
To illustrate this tragedy, the fashion historian cited Tom Ford’s film *A Single Man*. He noted that the situation in which a person “lives with a loved one but cannot legalize the relationship” remains a painful reality for many. Vasilyev described the topic of LGBT issues in the 21st century as “very open” and “interesting.”
Alexander Vasilyev pointed out that “non-traditional” relationships are not a modern phenomenon. As a historian, he noted their existence in Ancient Egypt and Greece, as well as among European monarchs and even popes.
“Many people think this is some kind of new phenomenon. You see, the LGBT community was known by a different name back then; it existed in Ancient Egypt, in Greece… The kings of France, the kings of Germany—there were plenty of examples like that.”, — he noted.
Vasilyev also added that members of the LGBTQ+ community make up the vast majority of the fashion and design industry. Alexander is also convinced that there are many gay people among actors, hairdressers, and florists.
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