| Dear Jay,This week, millions saw this dramatic photo of a gay man beaten by neo-Nazi extremists in Kiev, Ukraine. It’s shocking, but the anti-gay movement doesn’t stop there. As early as this week, Ukraine’s legislature is expected to vote in favor of new laws that will make it illegal to be gay or lesbian in public.President Viktor Yanukovych is the only person with the power to stop the law in its tracks, but he has stayed silent as anti-gay sentiment grows. If he doesn’t speak out now, an entire generation will be forced into the shadows.Here’s our chance: Ukraine has been trying to forge a “special alliance” with the European Union for years and this week an EU delegation focused on human rights will visit the country to advance the process. If we create a massive outcry in the next 3 days across Europe, President Yanukovych will be forced to finally speak out against the law or risk endangering his lucrative EU partnership.
Will you add your name to the call – we don’t have much time:
www.allout.org/ukraine
We’ve seen this before. Just like in St. Petersburg Russia, the bill Ukrainian politicians are pushing forward makes it a crime to write or speak anything considered “homosexual propaganda”. Things are getting so bad in Ukraine that the law is actually the product of the Government’s own Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information. |
 Ukraine’s President has the power to stop new anti-gay laws in their tracks, but so far has stayed silent.We have less than 1 week to turn up the pressure. Tell the President to speak out against these hateful laws and promise to veto them.
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Ukraine is serious about this new alliance with the EU community and can not afford to ignore calls from France and its other neighbours. In fact, the President described an EU partnership as his #1 priority and his “legacy” for Ukraine. But shouldn’t Yanukovych be forced to speak out against laws that make gay and lesbian Ukranians second class citizens if he wants to reap the financial benefits of an EU alliance?
Officials from Ukraine are set to meet with the EU’s Justice, Freedom & Security branch this Friday about human rights conditions for all Ukrainians. Though it’s President Yanukovych’s top priority to get into the EU without a hitch, this law is moving silently under their radar and is set to pass. Now is the moment to bring this issue to light.
Will you take one moment to call on President Yanukovych to speak out against this bill before his meeting on Friday? Every single voice of opposition makes a real difference so please sign and share this with friends far and wide.
Yanukovych’s legacy is at stake – let’s make sure he knows it:
www.allout.org/ukraine
Thanks for going All Out.
Andre, Guillaume, Hayley, Jasmin, Jeremy, Michael, Tile and Wesley
SOURCES:
Daily Mail: Thugs attack head of gay rights group
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147385/Horrific-moment-thugs-attack-head-gay-rights-group-Ukraine-forced-cancel-parade-hijacked-neo-Nazi-zealots
Kyiv Post: Violence against gays captured for the whole world to see
www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/128231
The Ukrainian Week: A Taste of Isolation
www.ukrainianweek.com/Politics/50761
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Crackdown in Ukraine(ismaelmelendez.wordpress.com)
Crackdown in Ukraine: Block the Gay Gag Rule(derekturnbull.wordpress.com)
EU ministers to meet over Ukraine’s incarceration of Yulia Tymoshenko(guardian.co.uk)
Euro 2012 turning into PR disaster for Ukraine as racism fears scare off fans(guardian.co.uk)
Ukraine could face sanctions over Tymoshenko(neurope.eu)
LGBT activist. I despise bigots, especially those who use their religion as an excuse for their hate-filled speech.