March for same-sex couples' rights takes place in Kyiv
How the Equality March in Kyiv took place (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
An Equality March for the rights of same-sex couples took place in central Kyiv. The event brought together military personnel, artists, activists, and ambassadors.
RBC-Ukraine reports on how the Equality March unfolded in the center of Kyiv.
The march began at 9 a.m. near the Kyiv Museum. From there, participants moved through the city center.
Participants of the march are calling on the government to focus on protecting the LGBTQ community. They are urging the adoption of laws to combat discrimination and to recognize civil partnerships.
LGBTQ military personnel, activists, and diplomats took part in the march. Representatives of the European Union in Ukraine were also present, including EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová.
This year’s march was held under the slogan Together for equality and victory, with participants emphasizing the need for legislative changes — specifically, the legalization of civil partnerships and protection against hate crimes.
It is worth noting that this is the first march to combine a human rights demonstration with support for military personnel who identify as LGBTQ.
Participants held the march under heightened security measures — it lasted 30 minutes, with people moving between two shelters during a time of minimal risk of shelling.
"We take to the streets to emphasize that equality must be protected by law. We demand the adoption of legislation that guarantees legal protection for LGBTQ people, including measures to combat discrimination and legal recognition of civil partnerships," the march participants’ manifesto states.
