The first-ever Kyiv Pride march was held in 2013, attracting about 100 participants and 500 counter-protesters. The event faced severe challenges and cancellations due to security concerns in its early years. Over the years, Kyiv Pride has grown in size and significance. In 2019 for example, more than 8,000 people participated in the march. However, the event has faced threats and opposition from far-right groups, requiring substantial security measures. In recent years, Ukrainian authorities have improved their support for the event. The growth of Kyiv Pride has coincided with legal advancements, such as the adoption of Ukraine's first Anti-Discrimination Law in 2014 and labor code amendments in 2015 banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In 2022, unable to hold the event in Ukraine, Kyiv Pride organizers participated in a joint "March for Peace" in Warsaw, Poland, alongside Polish LGBTQ+ activists. In 2023, Liverpool hosted Kyiv Pride. This demonstrated solidarity between various LGBTQ+ communities during challenging times.
This year, the Pride was held again in Kyev. Due to safety reasons, it was brief and compact (several hundreds of marchers could only proсede for about 20 minutes) but ended peacefully. The organizers intentionally restricted the number of members and kept the location secret. Still, it was a very significant event for the Ukrainian LGBTQ+ community. Ukrainian soldiers with photo tributes to fallen warriors marched with other activists. Many military marchers were wearing rainbow patches on their uniforms. The issue of equal rights for LGBT+ military personnel is particularly acute now. A lack of legal framework prevents a soldier's partner from making medical decisions or having access to the soldier in the event of injury or death. Besides the soldier rights, the march participants called for better legal protection against hate crimes, marriage rights for all queers and more weapons and air defence systems.
Despite the difficulties and dangers, activists and supporters came together even during the war, advocating for equal rights for all.
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