Gay pride participants in Kiev abandoned their efforts to march through the center of the Ukrainian capital a half hour before the event was to commence Sunday because gathering right-wing youths threatened their security.
Police raised concerns to organizers about an estimated 500 "ultra-right football hooligans" who were mobilized to disrupt the rally, according to Amnesty International.
Two gay rights activists caught up in the conflict were beaten up and tear gassed by a group of youths after pridegoers were evacuated by police escort, according to media reports.
The day after the May 20 violence the Ukrainian parliament was presented with an anti-gay bill similar to one that passed in St. Petersburg.
Max Tucker, Ukraine campaigner at Amnesty International, said in a news release that it was "clear from the start that the Kiev police department did not want this march to go ahead."
Prior to the event the police were reluctant to "commit to the event and to put adequate security measures in place to protect demonstrators," he said. These actions "left organizers fearing for their safety," said Tucker in the statement.
A senior Kiev police official had previously told pride organizers that he wasn't prepared to "put his officers in harm's way" to protect the LGBT community, Tucker said.
Tucker called on the Kiev authorities and police to "work harder" to ensure that next year's Pride participants can "feel confident they will be protected," he said.
The anti-gay propaganda bill was recommended to Ukraine's parliament by the Committee on Freedom of Expression and Information, reported Gay Star News.
The proposed bill flies in the face statements made by Navi Pillay, the high commissioner for human rights at the United Nations, who on May 19 called for countries to repeal all of their anti-gay laws and demanded equal rights for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, reported This Day Live.
If voted on this week, which media reports suggest is possible, the proposal would amend existing morals laws that cover media and publishing and the criminal code, effectively banning all information about LGBT issues and human rights work in the Ukraine, according to media sources and Amnesty International.
Similar to Russian anti-gay laws passed in recent years the legislation decrees steep fines and imprisonment for up to five years.
Bjorn van Roozendaal, program director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association of Europe, spoke out against the proposed legislation, saying that it "undermines human rights standards" and "contradicts" principles of non-discrimination and individuals' right to free expression and information.
He urged the Ukrainian parliament to vote against the proposed legislation and called upon the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the United Nations to condemn the bill.
Amnesty International also urged the Ukrainian government to reject the bill and to protect LGBT rights for future Pride events after expressing concerns about last Sunday's march.
IGLHRC's Johnson steps down
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission announced that Cary Alan Johnson, executive director of the international LGBT rights organization, resigned from his position on May 17.
Jessica Stern, who served as interim executive director last year during Johnson's medical leave, has been appointed by the board of directors as acting executive director.
Johnson, who has led the organization for a little more than three years and has served on the board and staff for a total of seven years, is moving on to resume work on a major writing project and other professional writing interests, said Roberta Sklar, spokeswoman for IGLHRC.
Johnson will remain a "staunch supporter" of IGLHRC's work, he said in the statement announcing his departure.
Todd Larson, IGLHRC board co-chair, expressed his gratitude to Johnson for his leadership.
"We sincerely thank Cary for his years of service to IGLHRC and his leadership in the organization's world-wide mission," said Larson in the release. "Cary has been and will remain a stalwart advocate for the advancement of basic human rights for the LGBT community, and we wish him well in his future endeavors."
Stern is a recognized voice for LGBT human rights in the international community working for IGLHRC and other organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said Sklar.
Dorothy Sander, IGLHRC board co-chair, is confident in Stern's ability to lead the organization.
"Jessica Stern has repeatedly demonstrated a unique capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders while continuing to propel IGLHRC forward as a sensitive and unwavering advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender human rights, advancing human rights for everyone everywhere," Sander stated.
Got international LGBT news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at 00+1-415-221-3541, Skype: heather.cassell, or [email protected].