The “KyivPride” march in support of the LGBT community has come to an end: how the march went
21 June 16:19
The “KyivPride” march in support of the LGBT community, which took place in Kyiv on Saturday, drew 5,000 participants and has now concluded, according to the event’s Facebook page, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
“The Pride march lasted 2 hours and covered 1.2 kilometers. The procession set off from the Red Building of Kyiv National University, then proceeded along Taras Shevchenko Boulevard and Yevhen Chykalenko Street to the “Ploshcha Ukrayins’kykh Heroiv” metro station.” “The march brought together LGBTQ+ people, military personnel, veterans, human rights activists, diplomats, civil society organizations, and allies of the community from all over Ukraine,” the post states.
The organizers stated that their demands to the authorities remain the same: not to adopt the draft of the new Civil Code, since, according to them, it contains discriminatory provisions and contradicts Ukraine’s obligations within the framework of European integration, and instead to ensure the implementation of transformation roadmaps with the involvement of LGBTIQ+ organizations as full partners in the process of change.
They also demand the recognition of domestic partnerships for military personnel and civilians, the introduction of criminal liability for hate crimes, including homophobia and transphobia, and to bring medical legislation regarding gender transition into line with the eleventh revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
According to a report on the Kyiv Metro’s Telegram channel, the “Ploshcha Ukrainskykh Heroiv” metro station on the Obolonsko-Teremkivska (M2, “blue”) and “Palats Sportu” on the Syretsko-Pecherska (M3, “green”) lines, as well as the transfer hub between them—which had been closed since Sunday morning—have resumed operations.
Concurrently with the “KyivPride” event, a rally was held in central Kyiv by supporters of traditional values and traditional families, who opposed same-sex partnerships and the holding of “KyivPride,” especially on Father’s Day, which is also celebrated in Ukraine on Sunday.
Both events were well-attended, drawing several thousand participants. A large number of law enforcement officers secured the events and prevented the participants from crossing paths. Traffic was blocked on several streets in central Kyiv. Many law enforcement officers were also spotted on other streets where no protesters were visible.
During the rally in Kyiv, an air raid alert was issued, and explosions were heard over the capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram that air defense systems were active and urged Kyiv residents to take shelter. Law enforcement officials urged the rally participants to seek shelter as well; the organizers of the “Kyiv Pride” rally issued similar calls following the explosions, but only some of the participants complied. Most participants in both events remained where they were but later began to disperse.
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