Non-binary couple “tie the knot” to protest laws on marriage

“Owl and Fox can’t get married” is the title of a new documentary film being made in the U.K. There the well known non-binary couple Owl and Fox, aka Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir and Fox Fisher, explore the situation that non-binary people are facing when it comes to the law. It‘s being crowd funded on GoFundMe, but what exactly is the subject of the film?

“The film is a kind of a journey,” says Owl. “Where we are studying the idea of a marriage and all that it entails.”

“We are participating in a filmed documentary that explores the possibility that non-binary people can get married without having to register as either male or female,” says Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir, better known as Owl about they and their partners Fox Fisher‘s newest project.

Both Fox and Owl are non-binary and their agenda is to create a discussion about the discrimination that non-binary people suffer when it comes to marriage.

“The film is a kind of a journey,” says Owl. “Where we are studying the idea of a marriage and all that it entails; heteronormativity, commitment, the legal aspects etc.”

The film is made by an all female crew studying film making at Southampton Solent University and it’s their final project. They‘ve already started filming and have been following Fox and Owl for the past three weeks.

“We’ve gone to the authorities asking questions, speaking to other non-binary people, our parents and then yesterday we ended up protesting the laws by “getting married” in Brighton,” explains Owl and adds the ceremony was only a symbolic act – not the real deal.

“The purpose of it and the film is to raise awareness about these issues, and point out that non-binary people have no definition of their gender according to the law. You have to register as either male or female, there are no other options in the U.K and not in Iceland.

Same goes for access to the health institutions, if you want to have a hormone treatment, for example, you can’t get one unless you identify as either male or female. That’s not acceptable.”

“The purpose is to  point out that non-binary people have no definition of their gender according to the law. You have to register as either male or female … in the U.K and … Iceland.”

To help finance the film there is a crowd funding project on GoFundMe where people can make contributions to help people behind the film get it done.

“It was not out idea to crowd fund this film,” says Owl. “But the producers thought it was a good way to finance it and so far it has been going well. The funding will continue for a few weeks more so I urge everyone to check it out and preferably make a contribution.”

But why marriage? Have you considered confirmation of a civil union?

Fox and Ugla “got married” yesterday at the Olde Steine Gardens in Brighton. The ceremony was only a symbolic act to show how the law on marriage excludes non-binary people in The U.K. and Iceland. Photo/Loretta Imogen Crinall

Possibly we could, as Fox is still registered as female and I am registered as female as well, but that’s not who we are. Marriage is a very interesting concept and we wanted to explore that in the film. It sometimes feels like the discussion has stalled and that’s not good enough.”

Is there anything happening in Iceland in these matters? Or in The U.K? Do you foresee a change in your lifetime?

“There hasn’t been many legal amendments for a long time,” says Owl. “The latest legislation is from 2004. But the Trans Equality Report is putting pressure on authorities and non-binary people are slowly being taken into account in the discussion.

Regarding changes in my lifetime, yes, I’m optimistic. There are a few countries that have made it legal to register as other genders than male or female and I know that in Iceland and some other countries it is being discussed to change the law regarding that. So, yes. It will happen in the foreseeable future. It just takes time.”

Any message for those who would like to contribute to the film on GoFundMe?

“Only that the discussion about non-binary rights is hugely important and that we hope this film will help expand the knowledge about what it means to be non-binary and the obstacles that non-binary people have to deal with.”

According to Owl and Fox the point with the film is to create a discussion about the discrimination that non-binary people suffer when it comes to marriage.

Photos (except wedding photo) by: Sharon Kilgannon – www.alonglines.com

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