Ukrainian Pride Parade blocked by Kyiv amid Russian war citing "safety concerns"

Ukrainian LGBT+ activists have devised an unusual idea: organizing a pride parade in the subway. However, the city authorities did not grant permission for the parade. Are the city decision-makers reasonable or queerphobic?

Pride Month is an annual event celebrated in June, aiming to commemorate the history and people advocating for the rights of queer individuals. It is a time when the LGBT+ community and its allies celebrate diversity, acceptance, and equality while also drawing attention to the issues that non-heteronormative individuals still face worldwide.

The war in Ukraine has been going on for over two years. The partially occupied country does not give up. Due to the problematic situation, the head of state is considering the legalization of same-sex civil unions. LGBT+ activists are urging the authorities to give the green light to homosexual couples. The situation in the country is challenging. Innocent people are losing their lives, and queer individuals have trouble obtaining information about the health status of their partners.

On the occasion of Pride Month, Ukrainian LGBT+ activists wanted to organize a Pride March in the Kyiv subway. The parade was supposed to take place in the subway. The city authorities did not agree to the parade. They cited "safety reasons" for their decision. Kyiv Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk explained in an interview with the Barrons portal that subway stations are a "dual-use facility and part of the city’s critical infrastructure." Subway stations serve as shelters during air raid alarms, for example.

The article also published an official statement from the Kyiv City Hall, in which government representatives explain why they did not allow the march: "In order not to endanger the participants and passengers, and to avoid possible provocations, the city authorities cannot allow the Equality March to take place in the metro."