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Activists in Ukraine’s first gay pride demonstration during the action in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 25, 2013. About one hundred gay and lesbian Ukrainians, and those from other countries, took part in the gay pride rally, protected by hundreds of riot police. Antipathy toward homosexuals remains strong in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
AROUND ONE HUNDRED gay rights activists marched in Ukraine on Saturday despite fears of violence and a court ban, marking the first gay pride event in the ex-Soviet country, where homophobia is widespread and generally accepted.
“This can be considered a historic day,” said Elena Semyonova, a representative of the organisers.
Lesbian and gay rights activists, holding rainbow flags and placards, held a brief, 20-minute-long march along a street not far from the centre of the capital Kiev amid a heavy police presence.
Unlike gay pride events in the West, the Kiev march was low-key and did not feature any provocative clothes or LGBT paraphernalia.
The organisers advised participants to wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes that would make their escape easier in case of a sudden attack or scuffle.
“Human rights are my pride,” chanted the activists who included a delegation from Munich as well as gays and lesbians from Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.
“Homosexuality is not an illness” and “LGB rights are human rights” read the slogans they carried.
The activists had defied a ban by a Ukrainian court which on Thursday ruled that no events could be staged in the capital on Saturday because of City Day celebrations.
The city authorities said they had received more than 500 complaints from members of the public over the planned gay pride march, while more than 60 parliamentary lawmakers signed a letter calling for a blanket ban on all gay pride events in May and June.
According to the organisers of the march, there are between 1 million and 2 million gay people in Ukraine, which has a population of some 45 million.
As in neighbouring Russia, the influence of the dominant Orthodox Church is strong and homophobia remains widespread and socially acceptable.
In Russia, gay rights activists also attempted to hold unsanctioned rallies outside the parliament building in Moscow and near the mayor’s office, but were detained by police.
Among the detained was prominent activist Nikolai Alexeyev.
So the gang of 4 have decided which Irish citizens will be disadvantaged for 2014.
The Irish have let them do what they want
What would you suggest? A giveaway budget?
Kerry. Everyone knows which citizens will be taking the pain yet again! They’re just trying to figure out the best way to force more and more of us out. It’s only a matter of time before they offer to pay us to disappear.
Kerry, only 2014?!
2015/16/17….50 Ect ect
Oreily, a giveaway budget, only in the run up to elections so they can ‘buy’ the votes.
Rodrigo, let’s not make any cuts and just borrow more…
O’Reilly lets start at the top and work down instead of the other way round for a change
How about they cut there own wages pensions exspenes like milage to drive to work dry cleaning hotels and lunch money and a hell of a lot more. I have to drive 40 miles each way to work six days a week all I get is a massive petrol bill
Ryan, if our finances are such that allow it at that time , then why not? But you’ll be rejecting any benefits in that giveaway budget then? You’ll hand it back to revenue saying you don’t want it?
@OReilly
in other words Ryan is correct….
Oreily by benefits I take it you mean the increase in USC, pension levy, property tax, broadcasting tax, and all other tax increases FG have implemented to pay unsecured private banking debt?
O’Reilly 20% of our revenue in 2014 will be going to pay interest on our “bailout” maybe we could suggest to our partners we will only be using 10% to pay off the cost of the banks and use the rest to generate work in Ireland and ensure our ill or needy in our society are not further disadvantaged?
I feel your pain citizens,i feel your pain!
Spot on Sean… True leaders lead from the front…
Thanks Tony
Its called Structural Reform problem is there is not a hope it will happen….they are too many pigs with their noses in the trough
sorry
*there
It will still be a tough budget, Mr Noonon, our finance minister, solemnly declares to the people. God damn, it must be so easy to tighten other people’s belts – especially when you don’t have to tighten your own!
I hope they will be doing a serious review of their own expenses as a cost saving measure.
Don’t suggest that, they’ll just increase them.
I think they will deserve a little break after all this work. Sack the lot of them !!!!
The main topic of debate will be whether to give us a kick in the nuts or a punch in the stomach.
C’mon pay rise!
Looks like they are going to go for the “benefits” for the disabled. The free electricity units and phone line rental are pretty crucial to the survival of anyone trying to live on disability. I had to attempt it years ago after an accident and it was brutal. If they do take these away it is going to drop a lot of peoples lives into misery and further debt. It means that disabled people will have to find €50 a month or more to fund the bankers and that can only do one thing..increase suicide rates. Many disabled people have to deal with physical pain and to inflict more financial pain on them is not the mark of a civilised society. A wipeout of TD’s expenses would be much more humane.
Booooooooo!
I will save the lads some time. Here is what you should do lads:
Increase taxes on ordinary citizens
Save money by reducing services to vulnerable people
Look after banks/wealthy/yourselves/your mates
Sorted!
Budget adjustment of €2.5bn? Same cost as mental health difficulties to the economy annually, which we pointed out two years ago! http://t.co/xbNNtS9G3J Mental Health Reform has made a number of cost-effective and proven effective recommendations to all relevant Govt departments – http://t.co/lJnSXi0wv6 …
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