MAIN INFORMATION
Andrea Lopez-Mobilia, Peru.
Virginia Perez, Spain.
Andrea and Virginia met at a party in Lima early in 2020 and have been together since March 2020. Virginia left to go back home as the lockdown in Lima proved too difficult, but regardless of issues surrounding the recognition of same-sex partnerships in Peru, Andrea was able to have their civil partnership recognised and they were reunited in Spain in December 2020.
They were 9,501 km apart.
Virginia Perez, Spain.
Andrea and Virginia met at a party in Lima early in 2020 and have been together since March 2020. Virginia left to go back home as the lockdown in Lima proved too difficult, but regardless of issues surrounding the recognition of same-sex partnerships in Peru, Andrea was able to have their civil partnership recognised and they were reunited in Spain in December 2020.
They were 9,501 km apart.
STORY OF SEPARATION
Virginia and Andrea met two weeks before the Lima lockdown and spent the start of their relationship quarantining together. At first, it was wonderful. Then it was too intense, and Andrea moved out. Three months later, Virginia returned to Spain, and what had started as something so intimate became purely virtual. “I have always hated video calls,” admits Virginia. Despite this, she and Andrea lived their relationship through them: they ate together, shared cigarettes, watched series, were intimate. But sometimes living through a screen just didn’t cut it. “There [were] days when I just didn’t feel like making a video call, and I wish she could have been with me,” says Virginia.
Returning to the physical relationship of their beginnings was also uncertain. Peru is a deeply conservative and Catholic country, which doesn’t support or protect same-sex relationships. Same-sex civil unions are not legal. And, this scared Andrea when she applied for a visa to join Virginia in Spain, “I was afraid […] I thought they were going to stop me [going to Spain], and I was already thinking about how I could fight them”. But, in December 2020, immigration permitted her to make the trip. “I could [cope with being apart] for three or four months," continues Virginia, "but in the end, man, it is just too difficult”.
Returning to the physical relationship of their beginnings was also uncertain. Peru is a deeply conservative and Catholic country, which doesn’t support or protect same-sex relationships. Same-sex civil unions are not legal. And, this scared Andrea when she applied for a visa to join Virginia in Spain, “I was afraid […] I thought they were going to stop me [going to Spain], and I was already thinking about how I could fight them”. But, in December 2020, immigration permitted her to make the trip. “I could [cope with being apart] for three or four months," continues Virginia, "but in the end, man, it is just too difficult”.
“Marriage does not define every relationship; significant relationships can exist outside of that framework. And, the LGBTQ community does not have marriage or partnership rights in some countries.”
Krishni Metivier, Love Is Not Tourism campaigner
“Marriage does not define every relationship; significant relationships can exist outside of that framework. And, the LGBTQ community does not have marriage or partnership rights in some countries.”
Krishni Metivier, Love Is Not Tourism campaigner
TIME APART
“Virginia was very stressed [from work] and I just wanted someone to look at me and love me,” says Andrea, of the six weeks she spent quarantining in Virginia's apartment at the start of their relationship. “It was not a good combination.” After Andrea moved out, they didn’t talk for the next fortnight, and then Virginia decided she wanted to return home to Spain. Her work was too intense, her apartment too claustrophobic, and she missed her family. Virginia told Andrea, which upset her. “I did not want to lose her,” says Virginia. “But I was also sincere about where I was at [...] I was in a fucking 20m2 apartment, overwhelmed, I wanted to get out of there. At one point I hated everything that was around me. She was the little bit of good that I had, but, at that moment, I believed that I was not doing her any good.” They didn’t talk much for the following three and a half months; Virginia took some time to get stronger and, when she felt better, text Andrea: "Here I am, I haven’t forgotten". From there, things returned to the magic of the relationship’s beginnings. And the couple began staying with each other on weekends.
In August 2020, Virginia returned home to Spain. The plan was for Andrea to follow soon after. “I cannot freely enter Europe, and in these conditions [Covid-19] much less,” says Andrea. “Virginia has an adopted cat, which has a European passport, and I don’t. It has more rights to be on that land than I do [...] It would be better for me to be a fucking cat.” The visa application intimidated the couple, especially given that Peru does not recognise their same-sex relationship. They discovered the Love is Not Tourism group, which supported them. But, the process was surprisingly smooth. The couple compiled evidence of their relationship. Peru permitted them, and Spain approved their civil partnership. On 18 December, Andrea flew to Spain to be with Virginia.
In August 2020, Virginia returned home to Spain. The plan was for Andrea to follow soon after. “I cannot freely enter Europe, and in these conditions [Covid-19] much less,” says Andrea. “Virginia has an adopted cat, which has a European passport, and I don’t. It has more rights to be on that land than I do [...] It would be better for me to be a fucking cat.” The visa application intimidated the couple, especially given that Peru does not recognise their same-sex relationship. They discovered the Love is Not Tourism group, which supported them. But, the process was surprisingly smooth. The couple compiled evidence of their relationship. Peru permitted them, and Spain approved their civil partnership. On 18 December, Andrea flew to Spain to be with Virginia.
“Well, I think that seeing each other on camera really does a lot, and also we make each other participate in everything we live here. Well, I try to make her a participant in my plans, who I am with or any nonsense, what I eat, I don't know. Because in the end I tell her everything that I would like her to be or the things that I would like to teach her when she comes.”
Virginia Perez
“Well, I think that seeing each other on camera really does a lot, and also we make each other participate in everything we live here. Well, I try to make her a participant in my plans, who I am with or any nonsense, what I eat, I don't know. Because in the end I tell her everything that I would like her to be or the things that I would like to teach her when she comes.”
Virginia Perez
