A protester sporting a masks bearing the colours of the LGBTQ neighborhood flag, seems on as they participate within the “Kyiv Pleasure 2024” in Kyiv on June 16, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Agence France-Presse
KYIV — Beneath the pouring rain and overshadowed by struggle, Dina Ivanova joined the few hundred who gathered in Kyiv on Sunday for the Ukrainian capital’s first Pleasure march for the reason that Russian invasion, guarded by a heavy police presence.
Shortly after Ivanova and different members dispersed after a short rally that occurred behind a police cordon, nationalist militants set off for a counter-demonstration by means of the streets of Kyiv the place they shouted homophobic slurs.
The opposing rallies occurred greater than two years into the struggle, which is commonly portrayed as an existential battle to hitch European liberal values, although a few of Ukraine stays deeply conservative.
READ: LGBTQ+ Ukrainians battle for his or her nation and their rights
“Even by means of the assaults, we have to come and present up. We’re such a rustic, such a nation, we don’t surrender. If our rights are taken, we battle for them,” stated 27-year-old Ivanova.
She contrasted the scenario in Ukraine with that of Russia, the place the Kremlin has accelerated its repression of the LGBTQ neighborhood since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022.
“I’m very blissful that I dwell in a rustic the place I may even go to Pleasure,” Ivanova stated.
“These damned Russians can’t.”
READ: Ukrainian Catholic church says doc on blessing same-sex {couples} doesn’t apply
The timing and site of the Pleasure march had not been publicly introduced till Sunday morning for safety causes.
In the long run round 500 folks had been registered for a largely static gathering inside a tightly policed perimeter. In distinction to such gatherings world wide, the slogans they chanted mirrored a rustic at struggle: “Arm Ukraine Now” and “United towards victory”.
‘Like an alien’
Among the many members had been a number of overtly LGBTQ troopers, together with 28-year-old Petro Zherukha, whose unit gave him depart to attend the rally.
Polls present a rising acceptance of homosexual, lesbian and transgender folks for the reason that outbreak of the struggle, with LGBTQ troopers becoming a member of the ranks of the armed forces.
“For a lot of of my comrades, I used to be the primary LGBT individual they’d ever seen, Zherukha stated. “It was as if they’d come into contact with an alien.”
“There have been quite a lot of questions, however I feel that after we talked lots… the whole lot grew to become very cool,” he stated.
A few of these in uniform carried a big banner bearing the pictures of fallen servicemen and girls.
One demand shared by many within the crowd was for the federal government to permit same-sex civil partnerships.
The dearth of a authorized framework for same-sex {couples} implies that the companions of LGBTQ troopers killed or wounded might not even be told of what occurred to their family members.
“Is that honest, when individuals are sacrificing their lives? No,” stated Marlene Scandal, a drag queen topped with rainbow flowers and a blue-and-yellow Ukrainian trident.
‘Conservatism and custom’
A number of diplomats additionally attended the march. Denmark’s ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen famous that one of many circumstances for European Union membership required the safety of minorities.
An amazing majority of Ukrainians need to be part of the European Union, with polls hovering round 80 p.c in favor.
However the thought of EU membership in addition to same-sex marriage sparked the ire of the counter-protesters.
Proper because the Pleasure rally ended, a number of hundred militants ran down the principle Khreshchatyk avenue towards the empty avenue the place the rally had been held.
Police then escorted them across the neighbourhood, whereas they shouted slogans towards Russia, and demise threats towards homosexual folks.
One of many organizers of the march, standing subsequent to a person sporting a swastika on his cap, denied the demise threats had been homophobic.
And 21-year-old Oleksandr Tymoshenko, from the Proper Sector youth group, stated he was protesting “not towards gays” however towards the LGBTQ motion “combating for particular rights”.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“All international locations in Japanese Europe, and particularly the post-Soviet states, are very a lot characterised by conservatism and custom. Ukraine isn’t any exception,” he stated.
