Using diversion tactics to make it happen
By Cathy Kristofferson, May 25, 2013
Gay rights activists take part in a march across Kiev May 25, 2013. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Yesterday we reported here on OBLOGDEE the week long saga of KyivPride-2013, Ukraine’s LGBT Pride Organization, attempts to hold their 1st Gay Pride March today. After members of Parliament signed a petition against the, followed by Kiev city authorities filing a suit to ban them, and a court upheld the ban, the Pride organization appeared to have conceded with a press release claiming to move their events to a private location. Well, that seems to have all be a happy diversion because today it is reported that they have held their Pride March!
Reuters is reporting:
About 100 Ukrainian gay rights activists held the country’s first gay rally on Saturday, helped by police who arrested 13 people for trying to break up the march.
Riot police try to stop Orthodox Christian activists as they protest against the march of gay rights activists across Kiev May 25, 2013. REUTERS/Sergii Polezhaka
In the end, the police stepped up and offered protection to the small march, held away from the city center. And they marched, clad in comfortable clothes and flat shoes that would make escaping easiest, holding rainbow flags and signs for only 250 yards. They were taunted by Orthodox (so-called) Christian activists with slogans such as “Ukraine is not America. Kiev is not Sodom.” Their Pride March only lasted 40 minutes.
BUT…
They marched! Congratulations KyivPride-2013!
The Ukraine LGBT community was joined by a delegation from Munich – their partners in Munich Kiev Queer – as well as gays and lesbians from Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands who chanted “Human rights are my pride.”
Olena Semenova of KyivPride-2013 noted :
“This event will go down in the history of Ukraine as one of the key developments in the fight for equal human rights.”
To avoid risk of further confrontation the gay activists ended their rally by stepping into the grounds of a local film studio and climbing onto buses that drove them away to safety.
Gay rights activists take part in a march across Kiev May 25, 2013. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
The shadow of a gay rights activist is seen behind a flag as she takes part in a march across Kiev May 25, 2013. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
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- Ukraine Forced to Change Gay Pride March to Private Event (oblogdeeoblogda.me)
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This march will be Kiev’s Stonewall! Man, they had strength! To march under all that legal and church hatred……so proud of all of You! And the police, usually they would of been ordered to arrest the gays, not the protesters. Proud of them as well. Thanks Cathy for keeping is posted. Giving all of us a lesson. Our equal rights must be fought for!