(Moscow) A Russian lesbian couple was denied a marriage license by an embarrassed-looking government official Tuesday, just days ahead of a banned gay pride parade in Moscow.

The office director, Svetlana Potamoshneva, said Russian law recognizes a marriage “only” between a man and a woman. Despite the rejection, the couple said they would not give up.

“We won’t stop in midstream,” Fedotova told journalists later, adding that she and her partner plan to get married in Canada. She said Russia recognizes marriages registered abroad, thus allowing the couple to formalize their relationship.

Despite the rejection, the couple – wearing suits and bow-ties and holding flowers – held hands and kissed, and said they would continue to fight for recognition of gay rights in Russia.

“This is delayed justice,” said Nikolai Alexeyev, Russia’s gay rights movement leader.

Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, but opposition to gay rights remains widespread. Russian spiritual leaders have claimed that homosexuality threatens the country’s traditional values.

The marriage attempt precedes a gay pride parade Saturday, scheduled to coincide with the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. Gay rights activists hope that the European media gathered for the event will help them draw attention to their cause.

Moscow authorities have banned the gay pride parade, and anti-gay rights religious and nationalist groups have threatened to stage street demonstrations.

“The gay parade is … an act of spiritual terrorism,” Mikhail Nalimov, chairman of the Union of Orthodox Christian Youth.

His deputy, Dmitry Terekhov, said the parade was in part aimed at converting people to homosexuality.

In 2006, gay activists who tried to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just outside the Kremlin wall were arrested by riot police and harangued by religious and ultranationalist group members.

Last year, at least one gay rights activist was assaulted during a small protest in Moscow while uniformed police officers stood by and watched.