2,500 March To Support LGBTI Community in Ukraine

Kyiv pride took place with participants following a parade route in the city centre. According to the police, around 2,500 people participated in the pride parade.

The event, which is also called the Equality March, is intended to draw attention to the rights of LGBTI people in Ukraine and to overcome discrimination and violence against them. This was the 5th LGBTI parade in Kyiv, the first took place in 2012.

Photo credit: Nataliya Gumenyuk / HROMADSKE

This year Kyiv’s pride used floats for the first time, like pride parades in most other countries.

The slogan for this year’s pride is “A country for all.” Pride participants also chanted “rage, love, don’t give up on rights,” and "human rights above all."

Photo credit: Dmytro Replyanchyk / HROMADSKE

Meanwhile, around 300 opponents of Kyiv pride gathered in an attempt to stop the pride parade, but the route had already been changed.

Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk   Photo credit: Nataliya Gumenyuk / HROMADSKE

According to the Head of Kyiv Police, Andryi Kryschenko, the police detained six people during the pride parade.

British Ambassador Judith Gough Photo credit: Nataliya Gumenyuk / HROMADSKE

Commotion broke out between the marchers and their opponents before the parade even began. Some took pride flags from the participants and destroyed them. Police were able to quickly calm the attackers.

Photo credit: Dmytro Replyanchyk / HROMADSKE

Representatives from a number of countries as well as politicians attended Kyiv pride. Among them were representatives from the office of the Ukrainian Ombudsman, the Ministry of Economy and Deputies from the Ukrainian Parliament. The British Ambassador, Judith Gough, and Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk also supported the LGBT community.