Despite threats of violence from ultra-nationalist and right-wing activists, and several attempts by them to cause trouble, the Equality March in support of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Ukraine went peacefully in Kyiv for the second year in a row.

Around 4,000 people walked for four blocks in the center of Kyiv on June 18, guarded by 5,000 police officers. For some European cities, like London, that may seem a trifle – London’s Pride parade route this July is three kilometers long, and tens of thousands of participants are expected.

But Kyiv’s Equality March was the biggest and the longest ever. And that shows Ukrainian society is progressing gradually. The LGBT community is here to stay and has the same rights as everyone else.

Many Ukrainian and foreign politicians and diplomats lent their support. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraine’s vice prime minister on European integration, called the event “a test of maturity and culture.”

Ukraine passed the test. Still, the fact that the marchers were outnumbered by the police, shows Ukraine will have to keep retaking that test.

Even though only several hundred protesters came to harass the marchers, its participants were rightly worried about safety. During the Equality March in Kyiv in June 2015, aggressive right-wing activists broke through the police cordon and threw smoke grenades and firecrackers at the participants. Two police officers were seriously injured, while many marchers were followed and beaten up later in the day.

This year, one day before the Equality March, the website of a Ukrainian LGBT organization was hacked. Pictures of hanged and mutilated gay people were posted, along with threats against marchers.

There were indeed some attacks on participants after the Equality March was over, but police were quick to make arrests. Ukraine quietly, but firmly stated: we support LGBT people, and will protect them, until they don’t need any protection, and until they are able to take full advantage of the rights given to them by the constitution.

The equality marchers have shown the way forward for Ukraine and there can be no backtracking now.