LGBT rights in Ukraine

Ukraine is a conservative, mainly Orthodox Christian, country. In Ukraine, there are no anti-discrimination laws. The Ukrainian Constitution states that citizens are equal before law, but sexual orientation is not specifically mentioned. [ [http://www.rada.kiev.ua/const/conengl.htm CONSTITUTION OF UKRAINE] . Adopted at the Fifth Session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 28 June 1996. ] However, the list of grounds of discrimination includes an "on other basis", which could be used for gay protection, but it has never been tested in court. Homosexual sex was legalised and the age of consent equalized in 1991. No recognition with respect to gay marriage or civil unions is currently legal. Gay Ukrainians generally feel they have been ignored by the political establishment [ [http://www.thegully.com/essays/gaymundo/050128_electio_gay_ukraine.html New Ukraine, Old Homophobia] ] .

In a 2007 country-wide survey by the Institute of Sociology 16.7% Disagreed strongly and 17.6% Disagreed with the following statement "Gay men and lesbians should be free to live their own life as they wish". Only 30,2% "agreed strongly" and "agreed" with the statement. That was the lowest rating of "agreed strongly" and "agreed" with the statement" of 24 countries investigatedEvhen Golovakha, Andriy Gorbachyk, Natalia Panina, "Ukraine and Europe: Outcomes of International Comparative Sociological Survey", Kiev, Institute of Sociology of NAS of Ukraine, 2007, ISBN 978-966-02-4352-1, pp. 133-135 in Section: "9. Social discrimination and migration" ( [http://www.i-soc.com.ua/doc/Ukr_ta_Evro_eng.pdf pdf] )] .

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