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 ‘the protection of morals’, media and publishing, as well as the criminal code, effectively banning virtually all information on gay and bisexual issues and criminalizing LGBT human rights work in Ukraine.
Over 21,000 people from around the world have already signed AllOut.org’s online letter to President Viktor Yanukovych, which urges the leader to speak out against the proposed bill and stand up for LGBT rights before he meets with an EU human rights delegation on Friday (1 June).
Kyiv’s first ever gay pride parade was cancelled on 20 May after a threat of violence from right-wing football hooligans and the event’s organizer Svyatoslav Sheremet was later beaten by thugs.
A spokesman for AllOut.org said President Viktor Yanukovych is the only person with the power to stop the ‘gay gag’ bill and warned he must take action now before ‘an entire generation will be forced into the shadows’.
‘Ukraine has been trying to forge a “special alliance” with the European Union for years,’ he said.
‘If we create a massive outcry in the next three days across Europe, President Yanukovych will be forced to finally speak out against the law or risk endangering his lucrative EU partnership.’
by Matthew Jenkin
Source – Gay Star News
