Ukraine president backs civil partnerships for same-sex couples
The president of Ukraine on Tuesday said he supports a civil partnership law for same-sex couples. Kyiv Pride on July 12 submitted to Volodymyr Zelenskky a marriage equality petition with more than 28,000 signatures, which is higher than the legal threshold that requires him to consider it.
Zelenskky in his response to the petition notes his support for marriage equality, but acknowledges the Ukrainian constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman and it cannot be amended while the country is under martial law.
Zelenskky on Tuesday nevertheless directed his government to submit a report on whether same-sex couples can enter into civil partnerships through the country’s existing legal framework or a bill that would go through Parliament. “I appealed to the prime minister of Ukraine with a request to consider the issue raised in the electronic petition and report about the relevant results,” said Zelenskky.
Zelenskyy last year pledged his country would continue to fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity after he met with President Joe Biden at the White House.
