VIDEO
“We exist and we want the same rights as other people,” participants tell Hromadske at Kyiv’s fifth annual pride. It was a record-breaking success with 2500 participants coming out in support of LGBTI community. Hromadske spoke to participants at why this event was important to them.
To participants, the parade was important as, “Every person has the right to peaceful gathering, to peaceful expression, to freedom of speech. If we are talking about Ukrainian citizens, we should all have equal rights.”
The event remained peaceful and safe despite the 300 opponents who gathered to protest the event who seized flags from participants and burned them. Six opponents were arrested.
Compare to previous years, according to participants, this year’s pride parade had more of a party atmosphere like other prides in the world.
Kyiv pride, which is also called the Equality March, aims to draw attention to the rights of LGBTI people in Ukraine and to overcome discrimination and violence against them.
To get more insight on what took place, Hromadske spoke with attendee and European Parliament Member Rebecca Harms and Kyiv Pride Organizer Anna Dovgopol about their impressions of this year’s event.
