- Title: UKRAINE: Activists in Kiev push for gay rights
- Date: 18th May 2013
- Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (MAY 18, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS GATHERED WITH BALLOONS FOR RALLY TO SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS BALLOONS POLICE OFFICERS NEAR RALLY SIGN READING IN RUSSIAN 'LGBT - FOR FAMILIES AND MUTUAL SUPPORT' VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS HOLDING BALLOONS AND SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) GAY ACTIVIST DANIL, SAYING: "It's obvious that total homophobia exists in Ukraine, because, according to various statistics, including Ukrainian and European, it's even sometimes higher than in Russia and Belarus." SIGN READING 'HOMOSEXUALITY - IT'S NOT A DISEASE. SIGNED BY LEONID KUCHMA IN 1993' (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) GAY ACTIVIST DANIL, SAYING: "Homophobia here is really strong. We also think that a lack of rights is discrimination - the lack of legislation which would forbid crimes on the grounds of homophobia, the lack of legislation which would forbid firing someone based on their sexual orientation. We think that the absence of these European laws is a shame for Ukraine." ACTIVISTS RELEASING BALLOONS ACTIVISTS CLAPPING BALLOONS IN SKY ACTIVISTS LEAVING BALLOONS CAUGHT IN ELECTRIC WIRE POLICE OFFICERS LEAVING
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABFLJAO7JHDC6PD73JVPED0RDK
- Story Text: Close to a dozen gay rights activists gathered in Kiev on Saturday (May 18) to protest against what they said was a lack of legislation preventing discrimination against homosexuals.
The activists held rainbow-coloured balloons and signs with messages such as 'LGBT - for families and mutual support' or 'Homosexuality is not a disease.'
"It's obvious that total homophobia exists in Ukraine, because, according to various statistics, including Ukrainian and European, it's even sometimes higher than in Russia and Belarus," said protester Danil.
"Homophobia here is really strong. We also think that a lack of rights is discrimination - the lack of legislation which would forbid crimes on the grounds of homophobia, the lack of legislation which would forbid firing someone based on their sexual orientation. We think that the absence of these European laws is a shame for Ukraine," he added.
The gathering was peaceful, although closely watched by police officers and security.
Earlier this month Ukraine's parliament indefinitely postponed the vote on a bill that sought to forbid employers from rejecting employees based on sexual orientation.
Homosexuality itself has been legal in Ukraine since the fall of the Soviet Union, of which it was part, in 1991.
But a 2011 poll conducted by the Gorshenin Institute, a local think tank, showed that 78 percent of Ukrainians viewed homosexuality negatively, making a law against its promotion a potentially useful tool in the election campaign. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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