Ukraine, Europe

Homosexual sex was legalised and the age of consent equalized in 1991. No recognition with respect to gay marriage or civil unions is currently legal. Gay Ukrainians generally feel they have been ignored by the political establishment. Ukraine is a conservative, mainly Orthodox Christian, country. In Ukraine, there are no anti-discrimination laws. The Ukrainian Constitution states that citizens are equal before law, but sexual orientation is not specifically mentioned. However, the list of grounds of discrimination includes an "on other basis", which could be used for gay protection, but it has never been tested in court. In June 2008 three leading gay and lesbian organizations in the Ukraine formed the Union of Gay Organizations of Ukraine (UGOU). The groups' purpose was to unite activists in three main areas: advocating rights and freedoms of gay people, mobilizing the gay community and improving the effectiveness of HIV-infection prevention among homosexuals. The Gay Alliance, Gay Alliance Cerkasy, and Nash Mir Gay & Lesbian Center provide an even wider range of information, advocacy, social, and health protection services.

 

 

Europe slams Russia and Ukraine laws and says gay rights must be a ‘priority’

The European Parliament has told Russia and Ukraine to drop gay gag laws and said LGBT issues must be a foreign policy priority for the EU The European Parliament has told Russia and Ukraine to ditch plans to fine and jail people who talk positively about gay issues. The LGBT ‘gay laws’ already exist in… Read more »

Violence, arrests disrupt gay-rights protest in Ukraine

Six LGBT-rights protesters and several counter-protesters were reportedly arrested today in Ukraine during a gathering to celebrate International Human Rights Day. The theme of the 100-person protest in Kiev was “Say No to Legislative Violence against Human Rights,” which focuses on a bill before the parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) that would prohibit “gay propaganda.” The… Read more »

A pro human rights event and against homophobia was brutally crushed by police and attacked by far-right groups in Kyiv, Ukraine Several participants were beaten up and six detained during an event to unite all human rights advocates against homophobia and censorship by police and anti-gay far right groups. The event was held today (8… Read more »

Ukraine anti-gay activists release gas at LGBT protest

Hundreds of Ukrainian lesbian and gay activists have joined a rally in the centre of Kiev, defying a court order. Protesters denounced a proposed new law that would ban any positive depiction of homosexuals including gay pride marches. Clashes broke-out after anti-gay activists tried to disrupt the rally by letting off gas in the crowd.… Read more »

Anti-gay bill in Ukraine calls for banning rallies, movies, TV shows depicting gay people

Kiev, Ukraine — If a group of Ukrainian lawmakers succeeds in its mission, TV shows and movies sympathetically portraying homosexuals such as “Brokeback Mountain” will be banned. So will gay pride parades. The recently introduced bill, supported by the president’s representative in parliament, would impose prison terms of up to five years and unspecified fines… Read more »

Ukraine Postpones Vote On ‘Gay Gag Rule’

The Ukrainian Parliament on Friday canceled a scheduled vote on a bill which would ban citizens from speaking favorably about gay men and lesbians. If approved, Law 8711 would make it illegal to “spread homosexuality” by “holding meetings, parades, actions, demonstrations and mass events aiming at intentional distribution of any positive information about homosexuality.” Offenders… Read more »

A Host Unable to Kick Its Tattered Reputation

Elton John Pleads for Gay Tolerance at Concert Kiev, Ukraine — There was an element of mercy in the final whistle of the Euro 2012 soccer championships on Sunday night, not for Italy, which was routed by Spain, but for Ukraine, a tournament co-host, which over four weeks of worldwide attention had its already flagging… Read more »

60,000 sign petition against Ukraine anti-gay gag law

Activists call on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to stand up for LGBT rights ahead of EU delegation A petition signed by over 60,000 people, calling on the Ukrainian president to denounce an anti-gay ‘propaganda’ bill, will appear in one of Kyiv’s biggest newspapers on Friday (1 June). The online letter by gay rights group AllOut.org,… Read more »

Petition urges Ukraine president to stop anti-gay gag law

Generation will be ‘forced into the shadows’ if anti-gay ‘propaganda’ law is passed Activists have launched a petition calling on the president of the Ukraine to denounce an anti-gay ‘propaganda’ bill. The bill, similar to the one passed in St Petersburg, is expected to be voted on this week and would amend existing laws on… Read more »

Vandals attack LGBT photo exhibit in Kiev

Photo emerges of gay pride organiser in Kiev being beaten up by thugs An LGBT photo exhibition in Kiev was attacked, the day before the Ukrainian capital’s first ever pride march was cancelled amid fears for activists’ safety. Vandals damaged 26 out of 40 photographs at the city’s Visual Culture Research Center on Saturday (19… Read more »

Came to fight: Ukraine’s LGBT leader beaten upon canceling gay parade

Conflict for conflict’s sake is what some anti-gay campaigners in Ukraine were apparently seeking as yet another LGBT parade failed to march through Kiev. As Ukraine’s Gay Forum head called the action off, hooligans cornered the man to beat him up. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of Ukraine were diverted from their gay… Read more »

MEPs support ‘free speech’ after Kiev pride violence

Members of the European Parliament are concerned about the number of gay pride marches being cancelled or banned across Europe due to homophobic violence or laws criminalising public support for LGBT rights. They will hold a debate tomorrow with particular focus on these laws, in an attempt to target homophobia in Europe and beyond. This… Read more »

Ukraine rape victim searches for justice – Background story

Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – The 18-year-old woman, prosecutors say, was gang-raped by three young men, who tried to cover up their crime by strangling her with a cord, wrapping her naked body in a blanket and dumping her at an abandoned construction site — where they set her on fire. Amazingly, Oksana Makar survived. But… Read more »

Kiev Will Hold Gay Pride Events in 2012

From 16 to 19 May 2012 in Kiev will host the international forum “Pride Kiev-2012”. This decision was made Pride organizing committee, consisting of LGBT activists from Kiev, Ukraine’s regions, as well as the representative of Belarus. As stated in the committee pride, in the event planned march in the center of Kiev LGBT community… Read more »

Gay Ukraine News & Reports 2010-11

1 Ukrainian gays and lesbians talked about their achievements 1/10 2 Ensuring freedom of assembly for LGBT people in Moldova and Ukraine 4/10 3 Gay Forum of Ukraine 12/10 4 Ukrainian police illegally collecting a database on gays 12/10 5 Ukraine adopts sensational National Resolution on HIV/AIDS 12/10 6 Ukrainian Gay Activists will Present "Picture… Read more »

Gay Ukraine News & Reports

1 Ukrainian Gay Group Seeks Funding 1/01 2 Ukrainian Gays Gather 10/00 3 From Under a Couch, an Effort to Stop Corruption in Ukraine 2/01 4 Travel Story about Kiev, Ukraine 10/04 5 Ukrainian politics and society excludes minority groups, especially gay people 2/05 6 Kiev, Ukraine (Gay Travel Story) 7 Two International Conferences in… Read more »