An author has been forced to pull out of a literary festival after her book featuring lesbian parents was met with outrage from homophobic far-right groups.
Larysa Denysenko, a UN Goodwill Ambassador who wrote Maya And Her Mums, has said she is the victim of a “21st-century witch hunt”.
15 ultra-nationalist groups sent a letter to city authorities in Lviv, Ukraine, warning that they would “take all possible measures” to stop her appearance.
They said their actions were justified because her book was “destructive propaganda for non-traditional values”.
Organisers at the high-profile Publishers’ Forum cancelled Denysenko’s session because they decided her safety could not be guaranteed.
LGBT people in Ukraine still face hatred on a regular basis.
Earlier this year, https://thepinknews.com/2017/06/19/thousands-attend-pride-in-ukraine-despite-death-threats/organisers of Kyiv Pride faced death threats before the march, which still attracted 2,500 people despite the presence of far-right protesters.
Denysenko’s book incorporates 17 different kinds of families, involving a child conceived through artificial insemination, migrant parents and the child of a divorced couple – as well as lesbian parents.
The author wrote on Facebook: “Throughout my professional life, I oppose violence and advocate tolerance.
“It is precisely this attitude, according to at least 15 ultra-right-wing organisations and the Church, that marks me as a 21st-century witch.”
The author condemned the extremist backlash, pouring scorn on her detractors.
“I get the impression that these people haven’t read the book,” she said.
MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.
