Lesbian conference in Ukraine targeted by anti-LGBT protesters

Anti LGBT+ protesters descended on a hotel yesterday (April 11) in Kiev, Ukraine where the European Lesbian Conference (ELC) was due to kick off.

Dozens of protesters blocked the entrance to the hotel and held signs that said “homosexuality is a disease” and “go back to hell sodomites,” according to the Thomas Reuters Foundation.

A number of protesters also allegedly tried to break into the hotel to throw tear gas canisters but were prevented by police, according to Olena Shevchenko of LGBT+ group Insight.

Protesters broke windows at the hotel and wrote ‘homophobic threats’ on walls

Oksana Pokalchuk, director of Amnesty International Ukraine, posted photos to Twitter which showed broken windows at the hotel and “homophobic threats” written on walls.

One protester, Margarita Korotkikh, said their goal was “to put pressure on the government and explain that heterosexuals are against LGBT propaganda,” according to Public Radio.

The group of protesters was reportedly made up of about 35 people mostly from religious groups.

“We need to be outside and not to keep our sexuality and genders hidden at home under the sheets.”

– European Lesbian Conference Chair Silvia Casalino

When the conference kicked off today, Shevchenko took to the stage and asked attendees: “Are you scared?” which drew a chorus of “No!” in reply.

In a speech at the conference today, Svitlana Lukhymovych said: “The majority of people in Ukraine are not like the people outside of our venue protesting. The majority are too busy trying to make ends meet to care about us lesbians. It’s our goal to make sure they don’t end up joining those protesters.”

GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty

Participants plan to stage a short march in Ukraine this weekend

Executive director of ILGA Europe, Evelyne Paradis, praised those taking part in the conference. She said: “It is particularly amazing as you are organising the #ELC2019 in spite of efforts to try to silence you and you are showing an incredible strength and resilience in doing this.”