Fun Fast Facts
- Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal.
- The Ukraine recently attempted to persuade the European Commission to release the country from its commitment to legislate against homophobia.
- Antipathy toward LGBT remains strong in Ukrainian society.
- There are a few LGBT publications like “One of Us” and few gay bars and night clubs in Kiev and Odessa.
LGBT organisation: Amnesty International’s Ukraine office
- Watchdog organisation supporting human rights within the EU context.
- Supported Pride parade in Kiev.
- The front cover of the report – Nothing to be Proud of: Discrimination against LGBT People in the Ukraine – has a very graphic image of one of the organisers of the Kiev Pride March being bashed by a group of 7 men.
W3JOY interviewed: Max Tucker, Amnesty International’s Ukraine office
If you are openly gay in the Ukraine, in some areas, it can be very dangerous for you.
High-level senior politicians are comparing LGBTI people to necrophiliacs and pedophiles,” says Mr Tucker, who is also quite wary of religious figures.
The only reason that we have a gay pride in the Ukraine at all is because the European Union put so much pressure on them.
Social views are slowly evolving as well,[…] reports–such as Amnesty International’s –and mounting EU pressure will continue to build momentum for the LGBTI cause.
Published on: Oct 21, 2013 at 21:18
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:12 — 35.9MB)