You're reading: Rada adopts homophobic law in first reading

When British pop star Elton John came to Kyiv this summer, he pleaded with the nation not to turn against the homosexual community and vote for a law that would’ve banned the “promotion of homosexuality.” But on Oct. 2, 289 lawmakers ignored the openly gay musician in favor of the bill.

The
draft law amends several existing laws that
make it illegal to talk about homosexuality in public and in media.
Also illegal is the import, distribution and broadcast of video,
photo and audio products that encourages homosexuality.

Those
who do, risk being jailed for five years and fined for up to Hr 5,000
should the law pass a second reading and is signed by the president.

Communist
Yevhen Tsarkov who authored the bill, says
the law is aimed at protecting children from “homosexual
propaganda.”

“Children,
especially young boys aged 18 and younger whose personality is not
formed yet, are being lured in by the gay community. And (their)
whole life is ruined and nobody is held responsible for this,” said
Tsarkov.

Now
human rights organizations and Ukraine’s
gay community are calling on parliament to
nix the bill and stop discriminating against the nation’s lesbians,
gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

“The
draft law appears to be the outcome of stereotypical views on
homosexuality rather than the result
of a thorough process aimed at seeking the views of children
and ensuring their best interest,”
said Tetyana Mazur, Executive Director of Amnesty International in
Ukraine.

Mazur
continued: “If
it is to live up to European and international human rights
standards, the Ukrainian government must strive to create a society
in which diversity is viewed not as a threat, but as a source of
enrichment for society as a whole.”

Members
of the LGBT community point out that the
law is so absurd and homophobic, that it constitutes a witch hunt.
Travesty diva Monroe, famous for her on-stage performances and blogs,
said the police would have to start with Taisia Povaliy, a pop singer
who is also a member of the ruling Party of Regions and parliamentary
candidate.

“The
whole video for her ‘Your
Crimson Lips’ song shows two women splashing in the shower and
kissing, thus publicly displaying their lesbian feelings,” Monroe
wrote on her official Facebook page.

A
traditional practice by Ukrainian lawmakers, the
bill mirrors the Russian law on the same topic which, is in force in
eight administrative government divisions there since 2006.
The Russian law also includes administrative sanctions and fines.

“The
motto of this draft law is to taboo the
issue of homosexuality,” said Svyatoslav Sheremet, leader of the
LGBT community in Ukraine.

He says the draft
law has nothing to do with protecting children, but is about
censorship.

“In developed
countries they choose another way – to ensure the informational
security of children, they do not eliminate information, but regulate
children’s access to it,” says Sheremet.

Kyiv Post staff
writer Svitlana Tuchynska can be reached at [email protected]