Ukraine LGBT activist: Government ‘failed exam’ by cancelling Kyiv Pride
A Ukrainian LGBT activist has said that the country’s government failed a crucial test by cancelling Kyiv’s pride parade.
Kyiv Pride was due to take place last week, but was cancelled at the last minute after the city’s mayor claimed it was not the time for “entertainment events”.
Globa Bogdan, the executive director of LGBT group Tochka Opory|Fulcrum, has condemend the country’s authorities for not permitting the parade.
He told the Advocate: “The situation in Ukraine and in Kiev is highly radicalized — there are too many groups interpreting LGBT as an enemy and the number of attacks on the LGBT community has now been increased.
“At the same time, our police are very weak after the revolution and demoralized by the events in the east. Moreover, I guess it was an exam for our new government.
“I heard homophobic comments from our officials, particularly from so-called liberal [Mayor Vitali] Klitschko. I believe that our government failed the exam on an understanding of what democracy is.
“The police realized that they have no power to protect the participants of the event… I understand their position. There is a real and objective reason.
“At the same time, I believe that the administration could make a more valid claim by saying something like, ‘We support human rights and the right to peaceful assembly but cannot ensure the security of the participants and therefore have to ask about cancellation of the event’.
“Instead, the administration and Mr Klitschko made a quite homophobic statement and accused the LGBT community of the provocation. I feel sad.
“l expected the situation after the revolution of dignity would get better, but I think that on the contrary, people have become more aggressive and radical groups gained the trust of ordinary people. Now it is fashionable to be a strong, courageous, masculine man in Ukraine.”
