Thousands take part in annual gay pride march in Ukraine

Participants attend the Humane March, organized by the LGBT community in Kyiv, Ukraine on 19 September 2021. KYIV, Sept. 19 Reuters : Thousands of people including soldiers and diplomats marched peacefully through the Ukrainian capital on Sunday in an annual gay pride parade despite some opposition to an event called off last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers said about 7,000 attended Equality March this year, according to 8,000 in 2019, which was the biggest turnout since the event was launched a decade ago despite opposition from religious and nationalist groups.

Homophobia is widespread in Ukraine, according to a survey published in August by the sociological group Rating, which said 47% of respondents had negative view of LGBTQ community.

The marchers were flanked by police as a few hundred anti-gay rights protesters gathered nearby, but there was no violence.

So super cool to be out on the streets alongside my boyfriend.

British Ambassador Melinda Simmons wrote on Twitter about friends supporting LGBTQ groups in Ukraine.

She posted a picture of herself surrounded by dozens of smiling young people with rainbow flags, some wearing rainbow masks.

We want to protect the rights of LGBT people because, first of all, they are humans, student Olexandra told Reuters.

Anastasia, dressed in military uniform, said the Army had issues with equal rights. She was a veteran of the war with Russian-supported separatists.

The service regulations do not allow you to reveal your true face, she said. This is the second time we have come to the Pride march to openly say that there are LGBT people in the army and other organisations not generally associated with the LGBT movement. The government has increased support for LGBTQ rights since Western backed leaders came to power in 2014. Parliament introduced legislation to allow discrimination on the job in 2015, but it does not allow same-sex marriage or adoption of children.

This is already the 10th pride, it went at strategic speed, it was focused, Leni Emson, director of the KyivPride non-governmental organization, told journalists.

Ukraine ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Facebook on Sunday that the constitution recognises all people equal in their rights from birth, regardless of any characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity I urge citizens to be tolerant to one another and refrain from manifestations of discrimination, she said.