In war-torn Ukraine, “every day can be the last,” and same-sex couples deserve “the opportunity to start a family and have an official document to prove it.” Same-sex couples must have access to the rights the government provides for married people.
Update – 13 March 2023: A bill calling for same-sex unions to be legally recognized in Ukraine has been submitted to the Parliament. The bill must now be adopted by the Supreme Council of Ukraine and signed by the President. Now is the time to increase the pressure so that same-sex couples in Ukraine have equal rights.
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Update – 02 August 2022: Today, President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to a citizen petition that called for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ukraine, raised the prospect of “civil partnerships,” but said the Constitution’s definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman could not be changed during wartime. This is an encouraging first step. We will keep supporting LGBT+ Ukrainians and call for passing civil partnership immediately and marriage equality as soon as the war is over.
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Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainians of all backgrounds have come together to protect their democracy and freedom from russian invasion.
Despite experiencing LGBTphobia in Ukraine, some LGBT+ have enlisted since February too.
But same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are still not recognized in Ukraine and this has caused particular problems for LGBT+ people signing up for the military.
For example, under Ukrainian law, if someone in a same-sex relationship dies, their partner cannot collect their body or bury them.
So, while LGBT+ people are bravely defending Ukrainian democracy and freedom, their same-sex partners have no right to take care of them if something happens.
It is important that LGBT+ people have the right to see their partner, take their body from the morgue and seek compensation if needed. All married couples have these rights.
Now, there is a concrete possibility this is taken into account: Amidst Putin’s invasion, a formal petition urging the Ukrainian government to consider legalizing same-sex marriage has garnered support from the necessary number of Ukrainian citizens to trigger the president's consideration.
However, this does not guarantee any changes to the current law. That’s why we are turning to you.
Please, join us here in Ukraine and ask Ukrainian authorities to legalese same-sex marriage, so people will be able to take care of each other during the hardship of russian invasion.
