Gay activists in Kyiv demand adoption of law punishing criticism of LGBT

Gay activists at a rally in Kyiv. Photo: Klymenko Time

On June 5, 2021, representatives of gay activist groups held a rally near the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in support of a bill introducing punishment for criticism of LGBT people, the Telegram channel Klymenko Time reported.

LGBT representatives demanded the adoption of bill No. 5488 “On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code of Ukraine Regarding the Fight Against Manifestations of Discrimination.”

The initiator of the bill, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, proposed introducing administrative or criminal liability for “intolerance toward people on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

The rally in support of the bill on the LGBT side was organized by KyivPride and the so-called “LGBT Association LIGA.” Gay activists stood with placards urging members of parliament to “press 5488 so they won’t press on you,” as well as slogans calling not to “feed the far-right.”

Journalists reported that “nationalists this time were not very active and did not even really organize a counterprotest.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a bill on punishment for “intolerance” toward LGBT people had been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada.

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