On 11 June 2016 an incredible event took place in Ukraine: after five years of fighting, finally the capital pride, the KyivPride, was held in the city center. About two thousand people – LGBT community, activists, allies, Ukrainian politicians and foreign guests marched together peacefully, guarded by 6500 police officers. This amazing historical step fills us up with hope and inspires us for the further fight for our rights in Ukraine.
We strictly believe that Kyiv`s experience will force the authorities of other regions of Ukraine to accept LGBT people as an equal part of society. We hope that starting from this day they will respect at least our right for peaceful gatherings and our efforts to be heard. This is why we take that challenge and spread the pride movement to other regions of Ukraine. This is the moment when we can start an open dialogue with authorities protesting against the oppression of LGBT people in Ukraine.
This September the “Pride Maidan” will take place in 4 cities of Ukraine. Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson will unite in the fight for the LGBT community`s safety and wellbeing.
Starting from 2006, the Ukrainian LGBT Association LIGA, in cooperation with and supported by other LGBT and human rights NGOs, conducted an annual festival of LGBT-community, holding cultural, educational, and political events. The community grew up, and today this format is too small for our needs. We must act louder.
Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson are the regional centers of southern Ukraine, one of the most difficult regions for LGBT people in the country. Constant economic stagnation, strict conservative political views, and the high level of hate crimes made our little motherland the place where LGBT people are not living, actually they are just surviving. Today is the time to start changing this situation and begin to make the Ukrainian South a safe place. With support of the Kyiv community we will make an effort to break the homophobic situation.
The Pride Maidan 2016:
Kyiv – open media conference; advocacy meeting with Ministry of health dedicated to LGBT health rights; LGBT culture community forum;
Odesa – political forum dedicated to the safety for LGBT in Ukraine, in particular implementing hate crime definition into Ukrainian legislation with Ukrainian, European, Canadian politicians; LGBT culture community forum;
Mykolaiv – open LGBT&allies Bike Rally for Freedom; public actions; LGBT culture community forum;
Kherson – LGBT culture community forum; public events for partners and LGBT allies.
We believe that 2016 will be the year when LGBT people will celebrate their freedom, not only in Kyiv, but in the other cities of Ukraine. That is why we call upon the community, our friends and supporters, to unite at the Pride Maidan for LGBT rights. Please join us in our fight for equality. Let`s make Ukraine a safe place together.
The Ukrainian LGBT Association LIGA
Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Lviv
https://www.facebook.com/Association.LiGA
Email: liga.lgbt@gmail.com
+38 (050) 318 — 12 — 90