News (World)

Russian bombs don’t stop this defiant LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in Ukraine

"Those who attend the march represent the voices of those on the front lines and, sadly, those who are no longer with us."
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London, UK - 2 July 2022: person standing with a Ukraine protest sign amongst LGBTQ+ Pride flags
Photo: Shutterstock

More than 60 people took part in a Pride event organized by activists in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv last Sunday, despite the city recently being bombarded by Russian armed forces.

Thirteen cars “drove along one of the city’s main avenues to raise awareness about the need to uphold human rights and secure international support for the defense and recovery of Kharkiv,” a press release from Kharkiv Pride stated.

Related:

Kyiv shoots down clever idea for a safe Pride March amid Russian war

Ukrainian city officials said no to marchers who wanted to hold the first Pride event in the city since 2021.

“We need to show visibility that there are LGBTQ+ people in the army,” said Vlad, an LGBTQ+ soldier identified by the call sign “Sapsan” in the press release.

“Those who attend the march represent the voices of those on the front lines and, sadly, those who are no longer with us.”

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is located less than 30 miles from the Russian border in the eastern part of the country. Since the Kremlin launched its war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted the city.

According to a press release from Kharkiv Pride, several LGBTQ+ soldiers took part in the march.

On March 1, 2022, a Russian airstrike killed Elvira Schemur, an LGBTQ+ rights activist who volunteered for both Kharkiv Pride and Kyiv Pride, an organization based in Ukraine’s capital. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, a transgender American journalist (who used to write for LGBTQ Nation) and now a member of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, arrived in Kharkiv just eight days after Schemur’s death.

“We remember every day how important Ukraine’s victory is,” said Kharkiv Pride Co-organizer Anna Sharyhina. “Just as important to us is the fight for equal rights and the protection of the LGBTQ+ community. People who are fighting, risking their lives, cannot be denied their rights. It is both unjust and undignified, and the war has only highlighted these challenges.”

Each car group carried specific messages, both to the Ukranian government and to international states. “Kharkiv Pride is urging the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) to pass legislation that strengthens accountability for hate crimes (Bill № 5488) and introduces registered partnerships (Bill № 9103.),” the press release said.

“Activists are also appealing to European countries to help protect Kharkiv’s skies with modern air defense systems and to international partners to consider the needs of underrepresented and vulnerable groups, involving them in decision-making processes during recovery planning.”

The theme of this year’s Pride was “Together for Equality and Victory.”

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