Janine GriffithsUkrainian refugees and supporters from across Leeds and the North of England joined the Leeds Pride parade to highlight the legal inequalities still faced by LGBTQ+ soldiers fighting for Ukraine.
The march brought together members of the Leeds Ukrainian Community Association (LUCA), alongside supporters of LGBTQ+ Ukrainian military personnel, to raise awareness of an issue they said remained largely unknown in the UK.
The event was supported by UKRAINEPRIDE and called for stronger legal protections and recognition for LGBTQ+ military personnel and their families in Ukraine.
Danylo, a Ukrainian refugee and member of the LGBTQ+ community, said: “As Ukrainians, we carry this message from our community into the city we now call home.
“We are proud of the LGBTQ+ Ukrainians who defend our country. They risk their lives for freedom and democracy every day, yet many still do not have the same legal rights as the people they fight with.
“We believe that those who serve their country deserve equal rights, equal dignity and equal recognition under the law.
“No one should have to fight for their country and fight for their basic rights at the same time.”
Campaigners said many LGBTQ+ Ukrainian military personnel still faced legal inequalities affecting their families while serving.
They said the same sex partner of a seriously wounded soldier might not be allowed to visit them in intensive care or receive information about their condition.
They also said if a service member died, their partner might not be legally recognised or receive the legal protections and support available to spouses.
Campaigners said Ukraine was considering legislation on civil partnerships and expressed support for the proposal. They also called for amendments to help address the legal inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ couples, including military personnel and their families.
LUCA, a registered charity founded in 2022 and run entirely by volunteers, said it had supported victims of the war since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its work included humanitarian aid, supporting Ukrainians living in Yorkshire and providing morale support for Ukrainian troops training in the UK.
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