27 May Despite a ban, Kyiv had its first gay pride parade.
Approximately 50 people marched today (25 May) in KyivPride-2013. Organized by KyivPride, Amnesty International and numerous European Union embassies and parliaments, the march in the Ukraine capital lasted approximately an hour.
The mayor of Munich, Josef Hep Monatzeder, joined the parade.
‘I will meet the mayor [of Kyiv] but first I [will] join the pride [parade], he said, as reported by Radio Free Europe. ‘No, the mayor [of Kyiv] is not here, but the mayor of Munich is here. In the past we had a situation when especially conservative parties were against the pride [parade]. But now they join the pride [parade]. It’s very hard to speak with people like this, with aggressive people. But you have to show what human rights mean.’
Radio Free Europe reports that there were 100 anti-parade protestors. However, the parade organizers maintain there were ‘500 of aggressive protesters calling us faggots, devils, pedophiles.’
City officials have worked hard to make certain today’s event didn’t happen. On 23 May, the city’s district court upheld a suit by local authorities banning the gathering.
In a petition signed by 61 lawmakers, they argued the rally would disturb annual Kyiv Day celebrations and spark violence.
For more photos, please go to the KyivPride Facebook page.