LGBT Activists Announce Equality March

Date: 28 May 2015

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This year, the format, time, and place of the Equality March has taken a long time to coordinate with the Kyiv authorities. LGBT activists emphasize the need for international support for the event.

This was told to journalists by representatives of the organizing committee for the International LGBT Forum “KyivPride2015.”

“There is a really terrible situation in our country. We were thinking for a long time about whether to hold this year’s Pride or not. But, after deliberations, we decided that it is necessary. Indeed, every year, regardless of the war, we have the same reaction to Pride: ‘It is not relevant,’ which explains this year’s slogan, ‘Human Rights are always relevant,’” stated the director of KyivPride2015, Anna Sharygina.

Activists pointed out that a very important moment of this year’s Pride is a cooperative effort with regional activists for whom a few trainings will be held. Organizers also briefly talked about some of the events that will take place during Pride, such as the campaign “Public Figures in support of KyivPride” and the Equality March, the key event.

“The ultimate event of every Pride is a peaceful march, the Equality March. We talked for a long time with the Kyiv City Administration about the format, timing, and venue of the march. Only yesterday did we come to an agreement with them about the details. So, for us, international support is very important. This year, the march is being joined by a delegation from the German Bundestag and European Parliament, from Munich,” said Ruslana Panuhnik, a representative of the organizing committee.

Last year in July, the third March of Equality for the LGBT community was canceled. The day before it was scheduled, Mayor Vitali Klitschko called the event “entertainment,” claimed it was irrelevant and asked for it to be cancelled. Meanwhile, the organizers began to receive threats from Ultras. Organizers canceled the peace rally due to lack of sufficient protection, which was supposed to be provided by law enforcement officers.