LGBTQ Ukrainian activists reportedly fought and captured a group of AWOL Russian soldiers in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Viktor Pylypenko, an LGBTQ activist and veteran who formed an organization to support other queer veterans in Ukraine and fight for the advancement of LGBTQ rights, said the Russian soldiers were discovered hiding out in basement that serves as the office of a local LGBTQ group.
Pylypenko rejoined the army last week to defend against the Russian invasion. Israel Hayom reports the activists fought and captured the soldiers.
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“This is our war, the Ukrainians, but we have also been fighting as LGBTQ people, and I’m sure that the comrades in Kharkiv understood that,” he said.
“We are confronting a tyrannical, homophobic enemy,” Pylypenko added.
“Ukraine is a European country. We have a 10-year history of Pride marches, and as you know, in Russia, the situation is like opposite,” Edward Reese, project assistant for Kyiv Pride, said in an interview with CBS News at the onset of the invasion. “We have totally different paths. … We see the changes in people’s thoughts about human rights, LGBTQ, feminism and so on. … So definitely we don’t want anything connected to Russia … and we won’t have them.”
While same-sex marriage is not recognized in Ukraine, the country does offer some nondiscrimination protections to the LGBTQ community, such as in housing and employment. LGBTQ rights in Russia are less supported, including a so-called propaganda law passed in 2013 that prevents instructing minors of the existence of same-sex relationships and which has been used to crackdown on Pride demonstrations and other pro-LGBTQ events. In Ukraine, thousands marched in a Pride demonstration in September.
Cam
“” LGBTQ rights in Russia are less supported,””
Yeah, that’s about the mildest way to put it.
bren1712
Was thinking the same thing, sounds like something prepared in Russia
Polaro
Lets hope when this is over, the Russians have been sent packing and Putin is “retired”, Ukraine will liberalize its LGBT laws fully.
MarcyMayer
I hope it’s true, however, whenever a story uses the words “reportedly” or “allegedly” or “according to unnamed sources,” I want evidence.
BDAguy
Woohoo… Vlad Putin must be poopin in his samovar.
trojanboy
Putin, just one of the nasty abscesses on the ass of world politics.
Jim
If the Ukraine wishes to join the European Union more liberal gay laws will follow.
Kangol2
Perhaps, though both Poland and Hungary are in the EU and have restrictive laws against LGBTQ people. Also Lithuania is not a gay-friendly country despite being in the EU. Ukraine on its own has begun to liberalize socially and politically, and the EU could help that, but it is no guarantee. That said, I do believe Ukraine should be allowed to join the EU at some point, especially when Russia’s clutches are out of it.
LunaSol2010
First let’s donate to lgbtq charities and get money food and housing for brothers and sisters! Forget the politics this is the biggest human crisis in 21st century. Less opinions More $
Allright