Halya Coynash: Ukraine did it! LGBT Equality March passes without major problems
Participants of Kyiv LGBT Pride hold a poster which reads \"Homophobia - kills\" and \"It's always the right time for human rights\" as they walk by Lva Tolstogo street on June 12.
For the first time, a planned Gay Pride march has taken place in the very centre of Kyiv with few incidents. On a day so darkened by the massacre in Orlando, Florida, this may seem a small thing, but for Ukraine it was a major achievement. Whatever people's opinions were of the event, and these remain very divided, there could be no excuse for the violence and aggression seen in previous years. Nor for court bans on such marches, citing the likelihood of counter-demonstrations, confrontation, etc. It is for the police and authorities to prevent clashes, and this year they did so.
