Kyiv blocks Ukrainian Pride Parade amid Russian war over safety concerns

Ukrainian LGBT+ activists came up with an unusual idea: they decided to organize a pride parade underground. However, city authorities did not grant permission for the parade, citing "safety reasons." Are the city decision-makers reasonable or queerphobic?

Pride Month is an annual event celebrated in June, aiming to commemorate the history and people advocating for the rights of queer individuals. It is a time when the LGBT+ community and its allies celebrate diversity, acceptance, and equality while also drawing attention to the issues that non-heteronormative individuals still face worldwide.

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years. The partially occupied country does not give up. Due to the problematic situation, the head of state is considering the legalization of same-sex civil unions. LGBT+ activists are urging the authorities to give the green light to homosexual couples. The situation in the country is challenging. Innocent people are losing their lives, and queer individuals have trouble obtaining information about the health status of their partners.

On the occasion of the current Pride Month, Ukrainian LGBT+ activists wanted to organize a Pride March. It was supposed to take place in the Kyiv underground. The city authorities did not agree to the parade. They claim it is all "for safety reasons." Kyiv Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk explained in an interview with Barron's portal that organizing events during the war is essential, but the underground is a "dual-use facility and part of the city’s critical infrastructure". Underground stations are used as shelters during, for example, air raid alarms.

The article also published an official statement from the Kyiv City Hall, in which government representatives explain why they did not allow the march: "In order not to endanger the participants and passengers, and to avoid possible provocations, the city authorities cannot allow the Equality March to take place in the metro."