A court in Kiev has ruled against plans for Ukraine’s first gay-pride demonstration. A district court judge today found in favor of city authorities, who argued against approving the rally, based on fears that it would lead to violence and could disturb annual Kiev Day celebrations. Last year, plans for a gay pride parade were … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Verkhovna Rada
Ukraine lawmakers seek ban on gay pride parades
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports: Sixty-one Ukrainian lawmakers have signed a petition urging Kyiv’s mayor to ban a gay-pride parade in the Ukrainian capital scheduled for May 25. Ukraine’s Family Movement leader Pavlo Unhuryan, who is also a [member of parliament], announced on May 20 that the petition requests a total ban on gay-pride parades … Continue reading
Ukraine: Pro- and anti-gay protests likely to clash May 25
Global Voices suggests that clashes between anti- and pro-gay protesters in Ukraine are likely once again if a renewed attempt to hold a gay pride parade proceeds as planned on May 25: An attempt to hold Ukraine’s first gay pride parade is meeting resistance from a member of the country’s far-right All-Ukranian Union “Freedom” party … Continue reading
Ukraine’s anti-gay bills don’t derail visa relaxation
Pink News reports: Efforts to halt the European Parliament’s decision to relax visa restrictions on Ukraine, due to the country’s support for homophobic legislation have failed. Since 2011, the Ukrainian Parliament has been examining two draft laws making it illegal to say homosexuality is normal, or supporting LGBT people in any way. It is feared … Continue reading
Will Europe pressure Ukraine to reject anti-gay bills?
Human rights activists are urging the European parliament to delay a move to ease requirements for visas for travel to and from Ukraine until that country drops efforts to curtail human rights of LGBT people. A vote on whether the European Union will allow visa-free travel from the Ukraine is expected on April 17, Gay … Continue reading
Pressure on Ukraine to reject ‘gay propaganda’ bill
Sixty-two members of the U.S. Congress on March 12 appealed to the Ukraine parliament to reject proposed laws against “homosexual propaganda.” In a letter to Volodymyr Rybak, chairman of the parliament, known as the Verkhovna Rada, they praised Ukraine for progress in human rights, but warned that “these bills threaten to create an environment that … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Europe warns Ukraine: anti-gay law obstacle to visa-free travel
The European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT rights today issued this press release, which confirms the observations of the Oct. 4 blog post “Ukraine’s anti-gay bill could lead to travel restrictions”: The European Commission has now said that Ukraine’s proposed anti-gay law would jeopardise prospects of visa liberalisation with the European Union. The Ukrainian Parliament began examining … Continue reading
Protest greets Ukraine plan for Oct. 2 ‘gay propaganda’ vote
BREAKING NEWS The parliament of Ukraine reportedly will vote tomorrow (Oct. 2) on a bill that would ban “gay propaganda.” The Ukrainian LGBT activist group Insight is seeking to rally opposition to the bill, including letters to the parliament (known as the Verkhovna Rada), calls to the Embassy, news in social networks, etc. The online … Continue reading
