Joe.My.God. LGBT News
About 50 brave people participated in Odessa, Ukraine’s first-ever LGBT march this weekend in the face of violent far-right protesters. Compelling video below. NBC News reports:
The day before the event, local authorities in Odessa banned the event on the grounds there was a high probability of a conflict, as far-right activists were also scheduled to gather at the same time and place. Organizers of the Pride march told NBC OUT this is a popular tactic used to cancel public events in the city.
Authorities also prohibited any outdoor events in Odessa during the period the Pride march was supposed to take place, and due to the ban, a number of hotels, including the popular Reikartz Hotel Group, refused to provide a place for LGBTQ events.
While LGBTQ activists marched, a group of about 20 radical youth protesters tried to break through the area police had cordoned off and attempted to disrupt the event. The police, in turn, knocked several of them to the ground with batons.
“Guys are shedding blood there [in eastern Ukraine where the conflict with Russia continues], but you protect gays,” one of the Pride opponents shouted. Most of those trying to disrupt the march were members of the local football club, who hold right-wing views.