Annual Pride event held in Kharkiv, Ukraine

More than 60 people took part in a Pride event organised by activists in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, according to ‘Washington Blade’.

According to a press release from Kharkiv Pride, 13 cars traveled along one of the main avenues in the city to raise awareness about the importance of upholding human rights and securing international support for the defence and recovery of Kharkiv.

Image Credit: Canva

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is located less than 30 miles from the Russian border in the eastern part of the country.

Since the Kremlin initiated its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia has repeatedly targeted the city.

On March 1, 2022, a Russian airstrike killed Elvira Schemur, an LGBTQ rights activist who volunteered with both Kharkiv Pride and Kyiv Pride, the latter based in the Ukrainian capital. Eight days after Schemur’s death, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, a trans American journalist who is now part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, arrived in Kharkiv.

The press release from Kharkiv Pride mentions that several LGBTQ+ soldiers took part in the march.

“We need to show visibility that there are LGBTQ+ people in the army,” said Vlad, an LGBTQ+ soldier known by the call sign “Sapsan,” in the press release. “Those who attend the march represent the voices of those on the front lines and, sadly, those who are no longer with us.”

In its press release, Kharkiv Pride also expressed support for bills aimed at legally recognising same-sex couples and adding sexual orientation and gender identity as categories under Ukraine’s hate crimes law.

In August 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supported the civil partnerships bill.

After meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in 2021, Zelenskyy had pledged that Ukraine would continue to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Towards the end of 2022, Ukrainian lawmakers unanimously approved a media regulation bill that prohibits hate speech and incitement based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Each group of cars carried specific messages to authorities and international partners,” stated Kharkiv Pride in the press release. “Kharkiv Pride is urging the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) to pass legislation that strengthens accountability for hate crimes (Bill № 5488) and introduces registered partnerships (Bill № 9103.)”

“Activists are also appealing to European countries to help protect Kharkiv’s skies with modern air defense systems and to international partners to consider the needs of underrepresented and vulnerable groups, involving them in decision-making processes during recovery planning,” the statement added.

Anna Sharyhina, a co-organiser of Kharkiv Pride, highlighted that this year’s theme was “Together for Equality and Victory.”

“We remember every day how important Ukraine’s victory is,” said Sharyhina. “Just as important to us is the fight for equal rights and the protection of the LGBTQ+ community. People who are fighting, risking their lives, cannot be denied their rights. It is both unjust and undignified, and the war has only highlighted these challenges.”

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