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IDAHOT Report 2014: Ukraine

admin — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 17:00:59 +0000

Ukraine

Ukranian LGBT activists took to the streets despite considerable social and legal challenges, and widespread political instability and distortion of human rights campaigning, and celebrated May 17 with a visit to a national wildlife island.

In the city of Zaporizhia, Ukraine, a flashmob action dedicated to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was held on the Khortytsia island – a national wildlife refuge, located in the heart of the city on the Dnieper River.

Rainbowflash action in Ukraine for IDAHOT 2014

Participants repeated the tradition established for rainbow flashmob events, and wrote their wishes on cards tied to balloons during the event. Before letting the balloons fly into the sky, the participating activists, using banners, created a media message in which they expressed their protest against homophobia and hate and urged media and public to “be over hatred”.

This was also a symbolic statement, since the group made a point of climbing to one of the highest points within reach of the city.

You can watch the flashmob action here:

Ukraine IDAHOT 2013 Report

admin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:34:47 +0000

LGBTQ organizations of Zaporizhia (Ukraine) held their annual Rainbow Flashmob on May 17th on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobi. Recently, in the Ukrainian society it has incredibly intensified homophobic and transphobic discourse backed by religious fanatics and nationalists and tolerated by the authorities, thereby provoking hatred, discrimination and brutal violence against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders. Therefore, the problem of homophobia and transphobia in the Ukrainian society is relevant as ever. Now under consideration by the Parliament there are as much as 4 (!) draft lows aimed to prohibit so-called “propaganda of homosexuality”, and in fact – to ban any positive mention of it in the public space, introducing fines and even jail time of up to 5 years.

Contrary to the last year’s event, this year the Flashmob did not go as smoothly. The anti-gay organizations and religious communities of Zaporizhia announced an “Anti-gay parade” exactly on May 17th, in order to thwart any attempt to celebrate the Day Against Homophobia. Homophobic groups in social networks organized a campaign to raise people willing to use violence against the LGBTQ people in case of any attempt to carry out a meeting. Groups of aggressive hooligans were mingling around many popular public places of the during the Flashmob day.

Nevertheless, more than 20 people had the courage to come out and speak out for the right to equality and freedom. Lined up in a row, the participants composed inscriptions “F*ck homophobia” and “Любовь сильнее ненависти” (“Love is stronger than hate”). Then, in a noisy and joyous atmosphere, the participants wrote on a piece of paper their dreams and wishes, bound them to the balls before they climbed into the gloomy rainy sky, coloring it with all the colors of rainbow…

Ukraine IDAHO Report 2012

admin — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:34:47 +0000

Threats from radical right-wing groups and fears for the safety of participants forced the cancellation of a march in Kiev to mark IDAHO 2012 less than an hour before it was due to start. It was the only public event the LGBT community in Kiev had planned for the Day.

It was reported that up to 2000 people were intending to protest against the march. However, the cancellation did not stop violence from occurring. A group of men wearing surgical masks attacked an activist, leaving him with multiple contusions and cuts. Footage of the attack was captured by nearby journalists, sparking international shock and outrage.

More information at http://eng.obozrevatel.com/society/… and http://cork.studenty.me/2012/06/01/…