Police clash with far-right protesters at LGBTQ+ film festival in Kyiv
Bohdan Zhuk, director of the Sunny Bunny film festival, told the Kyiv Independent that the organizers had received threats prior to the event.
LGBT
Russia declares Elton John AIDS Foundation 'undesirable'
The non-profit, based in the U.S. and the U.K. and launched in 1992, says it works in over 90 countries "to increase access to health care, tackle LGBTQ+ stigma, and end AIDS."
Russian court issues first prison sentence under ‘LGBT extremism’ law
A court in Siberia has issued Russia’s first prison sentence under the country’s ban on the so-called “international LGBT movement,” independent Russian outlet Mediazona reported on Feb. 19.
Civil partnerships in limbo as LGBTQ+ people seek equal rights amid war
Editor's Note: This story was sponsored by Gender Zed, a Ukrainian human rights organization that works with a broad range of issues, including sexual orientation and gender identity, gender equality issues, women’s rights, and prevention of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases. Andrii Kovalenko, 35, and his partner are
Moscow nightclub raids target LGBTQ+ community amid Russia's crackdown on 'propaganda'
The raids coincide with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Supreme Court decision to classify the LGBTQ+ movement as an "extremist organization." The ruling followed a years-long effort to suppress LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Putin signs law prohibiting adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries that permit gender transition
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legal, the Russian government’s legal information website published on Nov. 23.
Ukraine launches online marriages to unite couples separated by war
The wedding of Olha Shevchenko and Mykyta Pukhkan earlier this September was unique. It was online. The couple was among the first to marry using a Ukrainian-developed Diia mobile application. “One day in May, my husband saw a notification about the beta version in Diia, which offered an online wedding
Georgian parliament passes anti-LGBTQ legislation
The bills would ban gender transition, adoption by same-sex couples, and forbid gatherings or the distribution of information "aimed at promoting" LGBTQ relationships.
Georgia's ruling party to seek constitutional ban of chief opposition party
In an appeal posted on Facebook, Georgian Dream emphasized that it needs to obtain a "constitutional majority in order to qualitatively improve the political system, which cannot be achieved without removing the collective 'United National Movement' from politics."
Verkhovna Rada committee supports draft bill on civil partnerships for same-sex couples
Neither same-sex marriages nor civil partnerships are currently not recognized by Ukrainian law. However, given the number of soldiers identifying as part of the LGBTQ community that are fighting in the war, many lawmakers are recognizing the importance of granting legal rights to such couples.
Poll: More than 70% of Ukrainians say LGBTQ people should have same rights as any other citizen
Support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has grown significantly in recent years.
Kyiv Pride march planned for June 16 with tightened security measures
The KyivPride march will occur on June 16 in the streets of Kyiv. Around 500 participants, including activists, diplomats, and international community representatives, will participate.
Kyiv council denies permission to hold KyivPride event in metro system
Kyiv has not hosted an LGBT+ pride event since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Last year's event was hosted by Liverpool, England.
Belarus Weekly: Belarus classifies depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships as 'pornography'
Belarusian parliament passes bill expanding Investigative Committee's access to citizens' personal data without their consent. Lithuanian parliament rejects conservative proposal to cancel residence permits of Belarusians traveling to their home country. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us In a move mirroring Russia, Belarus’s Culture Ministry classifies depictions
Russia seeking to ban 'anti-Russian separatist movement'
The organization is loosely described, but characterized as having the goal of trying to "destroy the multinational unity and territorial integrity of Russia."
Russia establishes advisory body to evaluate books' compliance with national legislation
Russia's book union has created an advisory body to check books' compliance with national legislation, namely recent laws targeting the LGBT community in Russia, the Russian state-controlled media outlet Vedomosti reported on April 23.
Court in Russia rejects Google's appeal over $50 million fine related to Ukraine content
Google's legal problems with Russia preceded the full-scale war. The company was fined 7.2 billion rubles ($92.6 million) in December 2021 for failing to take down content that Russia has banned.
Russian authorities targeted members of LGBTQ+ community in Kherson region
Russian occupation authorities targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community during the occupation of Kherson back in 2022, Ukrainian public organization Projektor announced on March 28.
Ruling party in Georgia proposes anti-LGBTQ+ law, mirroring similar legislation passed in Russia
The proposal, which was put forth by Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of Georgian Dream's faction in parliament, is the latest in a series of government measures that aim to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Georgia.
RFE/RL: Head of former Russian anti-war presidential candidate's campaign arrested
Boris Nadezhdin's team posted pictures of the court ruling on Telegram, which said that the charge stemmed from a message that Igor Krasnov sent on the messaging app that contained the rainbow flag emoji.
Russian courts convict first people under new anti-LGBT law
A court in Volgograd Oblast on Feb. 1 found a defendant known as Artyom P. guilty of “displaying the symbols of an extremist organisation” after he posted a picture of an LBGT flag online.
Kyiv city administration illuminates its building with LGBTQ colors on Human Rights Day
The main building of the Kyiv City State Administration was illuminated with LGBTQ pride colors on the evening of Dec. 10, Human Rights Day. Initiated by two non-profit organizations, Amnesty International and KyivPride, the effort aimed to draw public attention to the pressing issue of homophobic and transphobic crimes in
Ukraine hands out first ever jail sentence for homophobic hate crime
In July, four men attacked poet Serhiy Savin and busker Maksym Verba in Lviv, believing they were gay. On Nov. 15, one of the attackers was sentenced to four years and one month in prison. It’s the first sentencing of its kind, according to the LGBTQ rights group Insight.
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