Legal Situation of Gays in Ukraine Pre-War

In 2015 Activists and members of the LGBT community demonstrated outside the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev
 

Information on the situation of gays and lesbians in Ukraine is limited. According to a representative of the Our World Gay and Lesbian Centre, there has been little research conducted in this area (15 Feb. 1999).

Ukraine was one of the first of the former Soviet states to abrogate its sodomy laws (Columbia 25 Feb. 1999; ILGA Euroletter Aug. 1996; Our World Autumn 1998). Gays and lesbians cannot currently legally register as partners, obtain spousal support or adopt children (Our World 15 Feb. 1999).

Sources contacted stated that most gays and lesbians in Ukraine remain "closeted" and frightened of "coming out" (Columbia 25 Feb. 1999; Our World 15 Feb. 1999). There are no political parties that support the rights of gays and lesbians (ibid.). At the same time, the Our World representative felt that there is no overt and oppressive homophobia in Ukraine and that gays are "tolerated but not respected" (ibid.). According to an article in the publication Our World,

though outer results are not that visible, we suppose that Ukrainian people are heading - slowly but unswervingly - for tolerance towards gays. One can hear more often that today's young generation of both sexes discuss the issue of homosexuality quite freely, without panic" (Autumn 1998).

In contrast, an Assistant Professor at Columbia University's Department of Slavic Languages with special interest in the gay communities of Ukraine and Russia was of the opinion that the Ukrainian public remains homophobic and that negative perceptions of gays and lesbians are prevalent (25 Feb. 1999). He stated that public attitudes towards gays are in fact getting worse due to the "explosive" growth of HIV infections (ibid.). He felt that even though it is primarily intravenous drug users who are becoming infected, the highly stigmatized disease is nevertheless associated in the public mind with homosexuality (ibid.).

According to a November 1997 opinion poll of 1,200 people, 37 percent of those asked felt that organizations for sexual minorities should be forbidden, while 21 percent did not (Our World Winter 1998). The remainder were cited as providing equivocal answers (ibid.).

The Our World representative stated that he was not aware of reports of harassment of gays and lesbians by police or members of other security organs (15 Feb. 1999). The Columbia academic was not aware of any reports of violent or harassing raids on gay clubs (25 Feb. 1999).

According to the Our World representative, there are occasional reports of physical attacks on gays and lesbians by strangers, family members, or acquaintances (15 Feb. 1999). The Columbia academic stated that "coming out" to the family can be very difficult (25 Feb. 1999). He suggested that in the past several year many people have become more involved in the country's churches, particularly the Eastern Orthodox Churches, which are not tolerant of sexual minorities (ibid.).

The Our World representative had no information on whether gays or lesbians are particularly targeted by the "mafia" (15 Feb. 1999). He stated that gay individuals do not usually go to the police if they have problems related to their sexual orientation, for fear of being threatened by them (ibid.).

Because the majority of gay people are "closeted," it is difficult to comment on discrimination at work or with respect to housing or social services (Our World 15 Feb. 1999). The Columbia academic felt that gay people are certainly marginalized and mistreated at work (25 Feb. 1999). He stated that while working in Odessa, he found that individuals who were obviously gay were ostracized by their peers, but did not necessarily lose their jobs (ibid.).

There has been minimal organizational activity by the gay and lesbian community, according to the Columbia academic (ibid.). A few organizations for gay men have been set up over the past several years, but their operations have tended to be short-lived, often because they are run by only one or two individuals (Our World Spring 1998). Lesbian organizational activity has been virtually non-existent (ibid.). According to an Austrian-based gay activist, speaking in 1996, most gay establishments have focused more on commercial rather than community activities (ILGA Euroletter Aug. 1996).

The Our World Gay and Lesbian Centre is reportedly the only organization in Ukraine in operation to meet the community needs of gays and lesbians (Our World 15 Feb. 1999; ibid. 4 Jan. 1999). The non-profit center was set up in December 1998 in Lugansk and will be involved in advocacy and public education to promote gays' and lesbians' rights and improve social awareness and acceptance of these communities (ibid.). The organization applied for official registration, as required by law, in January 1999, but its application has been delayed (Our World 12 Mar. 1999). The Columbia academic noted that because Our World is located in the far east of the country, which is heavily Russified, it is relatively marginalized from the rest of Ukraine and has to date had limited influence (25 Feb. 1999). He thought it possible that the group might have more ties with Russia than the rest of Ukraine (ibid.). At the same time, he noted that it has recently received an international grant, which might allow it to become more active (ibid.).

The Columbia academic stated that for a long time the press was silent about gays and lesbians (ibid.). According to the Our World representative, the mainstream media has recently begun to cover gay issues, although often in a stereotypical fashion (15 Feb. 1999).

There are currently two gay publications in Ukraine: Odyn z nas (One of Us), a commercial gay magazine published in Kyiv, and Nash Mir (Our World), a non-commercial magazine published by Our World in Lugansk (ibid.; Our World Autumn 1998). One of Us, the country's first gay periodical, is a very small operation (Columbia 25 Feb. 1999). The publishers are currently having distribution difficulties, although they have managed to disseminate the magazine in Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnepropetrovsk; several other places have refused, calling the magazine pornographic (ibid.). The Columbia academic noted that once the publications are distributed, there are often problems with vendors who do not wish to display them (ibid.). One of Us has also sponsored social gatherings, but the Columbia academic was not aware of any other types of activities (ibid.).

References:

Columbia University, New York. 25 February 1999. Telephone Interview with academic.

International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) Euroletter. August 1996. Kurt Krickler. "Homosexuality in Eastern Europe." [Internet] [Accessed 20 Jan. 1999]

Our World. 12 March 1999. "Discrimination Of Gay And Lesbian Organization By The Department Of Justice In Ukraine." [Internet] [Accessed 15 Mar. 199