End hate crimes against Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ community
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Update: August 14, 2025: Today, Ukraine’s government introduced Bill No. 13597 to strengthen penalties for discrimination and hate crimes – including protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. This could be a game-changer, but lawmakers must feel the world’s eyes on them. Now is the time to act: add your name and show Ukraine’s leaders that equality cannot wait.
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On December 8, NGO “KYIVPRIDE”, one of the most important LGBT+ organisations in Ukraine, hosted a peaceful and charitable event featuring lectures, film screenings, and musical performances to support LGBTQ+ causes, including fundraising for the "Birds" Foundation and the NGO "LGBT Military for Equal Rights."
But radical groups known for their hate-fuelled ideologies violently attacked the event.
Around 30 right wing hooligans, affiliated with ultranationalist groups such as "Prava Molod" ("Right Sector"), "Ukrainian Blood Unity," and "Brotherhood of Dmytro Korchynskyi," used firecrackers and smoke grenades to disrupt the gathering. These groups famously spread homophobia and extremism, creating an unsafe environment for LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine.
What’s more disturbing is that these attackers used Nazi symbols alongside Ukrainian national emblems—an alarming and illegal display of hate. Such actions not only endanger lives but also tarnish Ukraine’s commitment to democratic and European values.
But the Ukrainian police investigate this case as hooliganism, but not as a hate crime!
The violent disruption of KYIVPRIDE’s event is not just an attack on the LGBTQ+ community but a threat to Ukraine’s democratic values. It highlights the urgent need for stronger legal protections, as hate crimes and homophobia continue to undermine human rights and social progress.
But there is hope!
A new bill now before parliament could be a critical step toward combating discrimination and hate crimes in Ukraine. It would make sexual orientation and gender identity protected grounds in hate-crime law, so attacks like this one can no longer be written off as hooliganism. By adopting this law, the Verkhovna Rada (The unicameral parliament of Ukraine) can combat homophobia and hate and send a clear message that equality and safety are fundamental rights for all citizens.
Additionally, an investigation by the Security Service of Ukraine into the funding, activities, and illegal use of Nazi symbols by the attackers is crucial to prevent further hate crimes and ensure justice. Without such measures, Ukraine risks backsliding on its path toward European integration and democratic development.
Your voice matters! Sign our petition now and urge the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the new anti-discrimination bill, ensuring stronger protections against hate crimes. You’ll also call for international leaders to pressure Ukraine to uphold human rights and defend its LGBTQ+ community.
Together, we can demand justice, equality, and safety for everyone in Ukraine. Sign the petition now to make a difference!
This petition was started in cooperation between: “KYIVPRIDE, KharkivPride, Sphere Women Association, Insight, Fulcrum, Nash Svit, Projector, LIGA LGBT, Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights, and Norma Vita.
We, the undersigned, write to express our deep concern over the recent attack on KYIVPRIDE’s “Kyiv Queer Talk” event on December 8, 2023, and to urge you to take immediate action to strengthen protections for Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ community.
During this peaceful and charitable event aimed at celebrating queer culture and history, hate groups violently disrupted the gathering, using firecrackers, smoke grenades, and threats. These attackers—members of organizations such as "Prava Molod," "Ukrainian Blood Unity," and "Brotherhood of Dmytro Korchynskyi"—are known for promoting hate and extremism. Their actions, including displaying Nazi symbols alongside Ukrainian national emblems, represent a violation of democratic values and human rights, endangering the safety and freedom of Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ citizens.
We urge the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the new anti-discrimination bill now before parliament, which would finally recognise attacks on LGBT+ people as hate crimes, as a critical first step in addressing this escalating violence. This bill will provide necessary legal mechanisms to penalize discrimination and hate-motivated violence, aligning Ukraine with international human rights standards and demonstrating a commitment to equality for all citizens.
The importance of this law cannot be overstated. Discrimination and hate crimes undermine Ukraine’s democratic principles, tarnish its image on the international stage, and hinder its European integration. LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized groups deserve the same protections and freedoms as all Ukrainians. By adopting this bill, you have the opportunity to ensure that no one in Ukraine lives in fear because of who they are or whom they love.
Furthermore, we call on you to work with the Security Service of Ukraine to investigate the funding, activities, and legality of extremist organizations that promote hate and use prohibited Nazi symbols. These groups pose a significant threat not only to LGBTQ+ individuals but also to the democratic and European values that Ukraine is striving to uphold.
The attack on KYIVPRIDE’s event is a stark reminder of the work that remains to protect freedom, equality, and human rights in Ukraine. As representatives of the people, it is your responsibility to act decisively against hate and discrimination. Your leadership in adopting this bill and addressing hate-driven violence will send a clear message that Ukraine stands firmly for democracy, human dignity, and European values.
We respectfully urge you to prioritize the passage of this legislation and take immediate action to protect all citizens from hate and discrimination. Ukraine’s future as a free and equal society depends on it.
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