http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/2013531133953629232.htmlAuthor: Andrew Connelly Source: Al-Jazeera English
"Homosexuality is considered a taboo subject in the post-Soviet country, where being gay was only legalised in 1991. An organiser of Ukraine's first pride march - held last weekend - Mischenko said the community feels under threat. . .
"There was a case this winter when a gay man left a club and was murdered but under present legislation, this is not considered a hate crime, merely hooliganism," he said. "When I am in public, I don't express myself at all, I don't hold the hand of my partner, I just stand like a regular guy. I would be a fool if I wasn't afraid, but right now I have switched off my feelings." "
The Orthodox Catholic community has been very vocal in their dislike of LGBTs, often holding banner with sayings like "Gays bring AIDS to Ukraine" during anti-LGBT demonstrations, and during one event they even attacked LGBT activists. In the 2010 elections, the Svoboda party, which is seen as anti-semetic, racist, and allegedly homophobic, won 37 seats in parliament. There are now laws being debated in parliament which would prohibit the "propaganda of same-sex relationships" and bans the media from promoting homosexuality. LGBT activists are also worried about the effect this will have in their efforts to curtail HIV in the LGBT community.
Human Rights groups are putting pressure on the EU to not sign trade liberalization agreements with the Ukraine until the controversial legislation is dropped.
