14/10/2021
An astonishing and welcome seven thousand people participated in the Kiev Pride Parade on Sunday 19th September, says the Australian based gay magazine DNA. The parade was colourful and peaceful and easily outnumbered around one hundred ultra nationalists and religious conservatives who had gathered at the side of the route. A strong police presence prevented any attempt by these thugs to disrupt the parade, which they have managed to do in some previous years. Staff from the US and UK embassies marched in solidarity with the Ukranian LGBTQIA communities. But the country has a long way to go to match Western Europe in equalities. Samesex marriage and adoption are not legal and the power of the Orthodox Church is strong. Last year the Church's Patriarch blamed the Coronavirus on samesex marriage, although activists were left laughing when he himself went down with the condition – clearly god moves in mysterious ways!
