Ukraine Has Banned LGBTQIA+ Discrimination In Nation’s Move Towards Progress
LGBTQIA+ Ukrainian folks have experienced a significant rise in acceptance since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rose to power in 2019. Even prior to this, queer people experienced less discrimination as the young nation moved towards a more progressive, Western-thinking society.
On Thursday, December 15, Ukraine’s government unanimously approved a bill that outlaws anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, reports Out Traveler.
THIS LAW IS A NECESSARY SIGN FOR QUEER FOLKS IN UKRAINE
Sharing a border with Russia, which has institutionalised homophobia, Ukraine now offers a safer haven for LGBTQIA+ people.
Following President Zelenskyy’s rise in 2019, Ukraine has made measured efforts to reform traditionalist values to align with a more progressive European ideology and that includes LGBTQIA+ tolerance.
President Zelenskyy has voiced public support for same-sex marriage and civil unions and this new law helps aid in eliminating anti-gay discrimination, reports Washington Blade. “It’s a big step for Ukraine, to start adoption of our legislation to European values,” says Olena Shevchenko, chair of Insight. “We hope our government will recognize LGBTQI people as equal as soon as possible.”
