Zelensky opens door to legalizing same-sex civil partnerships in Ukraine

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/03/europe/ukraine-zelensky-same-sex-partnerships-intl/index.html

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has opened the door to legalizing same-sex civil partnerships in the country, in response to a petition that called for equal marriage to be introduced in the war-ravaged nation.

In a written reply online, Zelensky explained that it would be impossible to legalize same-sex marriages while the country remained at war, because it would require a change to the constitution.

But he said his government had "worked out solutions regarding the legalization of registered civil partnership in Ukraine as part of the work on establishing and ensuring human rights and freedoms."

The call to introduce same-sex marriage in the country has been accelerated by the war, due to the number of LGBTQ+ people serving in the military and the greater legal protections that married civilians have.

"The Family Code of Ukraine defines that the family is the primary and main unit of society. A family consists of persons who live together, are connected by common life, have mutual rights and obligations. According to the Constitution of Ukraine, marriage is based on the free consent of a woman and a man (Article 51)," Zelensky wrote on the website of the Ukrainian Presidency.

"The Constitution of Ukraine cannot be changed during a martial law or a state of emergency (Article 157 of the Constitution of Ukraine)," he explained.

However, Zelensky said he would work with his ministers to "ensure the rights and freedoms" of all Ukrainians.

"In the modern world, the level of democratic society is measured, among other things, through state policy aimed at ensuring equal rights for all citizens. Every citizen is an inseparable part of civil society, he is entitled to all the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine," Zelensky also said. "All people are free and equal in their dignity and rights."

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The best world leader by far.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

So the Unicorn in my signature is actually a symbol used by LGBTQ+ soldiers in Ukraine and a big reason this question was asked and the push is being made is because so many Queer Ukrainian's are serving in their armed forces, fighting to protect their homes and even couples are serving together.

Meanwhile, they have zero protections like heterosexual couples do and in the case of death aren't recognized as the official 'partner' for honors, benefits or anything. This would hopefully be somewhat fixed with 'civil partnerships'.

I have a lot of admiration for these people, who are actively fighting against a great menace to their rights on their backdoor.

And props to Zelensky, my understanding of his comments was that 'Civil Partnerships' could be introduced in the near term and marriage equality would be left as an open question for after the war. Obviously a Progressive answer for any Eastern European country so I applaud him for making these comments; now hopefully we see real action.

[Storr]

Evidently same sex marriage is banned in the Constitution, so even if Zelensky wanted to, legalizing same-sex marriage would be a tall order.

Interestingly (after just now looking it up), the only eastern European country with legal same sex marriage is Slovenia. A handful allow civil unions, while most only have limited recognition of some sort (legal guardianship, residency rights for spouses, etc.) or none at all. The only EU member with no legal recognition of same-sex unions is Romania.

[CumbrianLefty]

No doubt this will be seen by Duginists as further proof of Ukraine's "degeneracy".

[Middle-aged Europe]

Based.

[DavidB.]

If they really want to join NATO, they better make Drag Queen Story Hour mandatory in pre-schools.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

If they really want to join NATO, they better make Drag Queen Story Hour mandatory in pre-schools.

Socially based NATO is the only type of NATO I support.

[Stranger in a strange land]

No doubt this will be seen by Duginists as further proof of Ukraine's "degeneracy".

Then we need to remind them that it was the Sacred Band of Thebes which broke the power of Sparta.

[Santander]

The best world leader by far.

Saved for posterity.

[Red Velvet]

The best world leader by far.

Saved for posterity.

It’s so hilarious how the Zelensky stanning is only a way for western people to express their anti-Putin stance but they literally don’t know anything about Zelensky himself, neither do they care hearing about it at all lol

https://www.twitter.com/gugachacra/status/1555184012599197699

[Middle-aged Europe]

The best world leader by far.

Saved for posterity.

It’s so hilarious how the Zelensky stanning is only a way for western people to express their anti-Putin stance but they literally don’t know anything about Zelensky himself, neither do they care hearing about it at all lol

https://www.twitter.com/gugachacra/status/1555184012599197699

It's so hilarious how the Filatov stanning is only a way for anti-western people to express their anti-Zelensky stance but they literally don't know anything about Filatov himself, neither do they care hearing about it at all lololololol

In September 2014, Filatov threatened in public journalist Anatoly Shariy, using obscene words and promising to beat the journalist.[9]

On 7 April 2020, Oleksandr Dubinsky shared a screenshot (supposedly fake) on his Facebook page in which, on behalf of Filatov, it was promised to shoot pets that residents walk in parks during quarantine. Later on, Dubinsky placed another statement saying that Filatov removed his initial post about pets from his page and affronted the mayor. In comments section under the Dubinsky’s post with insults, Filatov threatened Dubinsky using foul language with mutilations to be inflicted once they meet and literally said that Benia’s (presumably local oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi’s) security staff won’t save him. Moreover, Filatov published a post himself where he called (likely) Dubinsky a "Bearded Nana’s (a local nickname for Kolomoyskyi) sidekick".[10]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borys_Filatov

[Red Velvet]

Posting a quote from a person is stanning now? Say whaaat? hahaha

[Property Representative of the Harold Holt Swimming Centre]

The best world leader by far.

Saved for posterity.

It’s so hilarious how the Zelensky stanning is only a way for western people to express their anti-Putin stance but they literally don’t know anything about Zelensky himself, neither do they care hearing about it at all lol

https://www.twitter.com/gugachacra/status/1555184012599197699

You're asking too much of people. Let them just read the headlines and put up Ukrainian flags in their gardens. Isn't it odd how rare it is to see flags of the various other victim countries in the world being flown? If I were cynical, which I am most certainly not, I'd almost say that people don't deep down care about injustices aside from those that happen to be dominating news coverage. A bit like how they only really care about their own nation's politics on about one day every four years.

I give Nancy Pelosi credit for attempting to remind the world that there are other problems too.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Posting a quote from a person is stanning now? Say whaaat? hahaha

You tell me, you're the stanning expert here... lolololololol trolololololol

[DavidB.]

It’s so hilarious how the Zelensky stanning is only a way for western people to express their anti-Putin stance but they literally don’t know anything about Zelensky himself, neither do they care hearing about it at all lol

https://www.twitter.com/gugachacra/status/1555184012599197699

Imagine thinking people mind. As if massive political competition in Ukraine should now be priority, instead of Ukraine remaining an independent nation and keeping as much of their land as possible.

[CumbrianLefty]

The best world leader by far.

Saved for posterity.

It’s so hilarious how the Zelensky stanning is only a way for western people to express their anti-Putin stance but they literally don’t know anything about Zelensky himself, neither do they care hearing about it at all lol

https://www.twitter.com/gugachacra/status/1555184012599197699

You're asking too much of people. Let them just read the headlines and put up Ukrainian flags in their gardens. Isn't it odd how rare it is to see flags of the various other victim countries in the world being flown? If I were cynical, which I am most certainly not, I'd almost say that people don't deep down care about injustices aside from those that happen to be dominating news coverage. A bit like how they only really care about their own nation's politics on about one day every four years.

I give Nancy Pelosi credit for attempting to remind the world that there are other problems too.

Well if China actually invaded Taiwan, I think a lot of people would care about that too.

It may actually be possible to be *too* cynical about these things.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I'm 100% certain that he will be Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2022.

[It’s so Joever]

Yeah Zelensky sucks, but he ain’t Putin. Of course if Red Velvet believes his country should get cuddly with Russia…well never underestimate the American ability to organize a coup. We will replace your corrupt leader with our corrupt leader and you will like it.

[Red Velvet]

Yeah Zelensky sucks, but he ain’t Putin. Of course if Red Velvet believes his country should get cuddly with Russia…well never underestimate the American ability to organize a coup. We will replace your corrupt leader with our corrupt leader and you will like it.

US has no real power over anyone

[It’s so Joever]

Yeah Zelensky sucks, but he ain’t Putin. Of course if Red Velvet believes his country should get cuddly with Russia…well never underestimate the American ability to organize a coup. We will replace your corrupt leader with our corrupt leader and you will like it.

US has no real power over anyone

Yes you are right, we are so powerless. It wouldn’t be us behind such a coup, we wouldn’t do such a thing. We just are too innocent and helpless to even pull that off.

[Red Velvet]

Yeah Zelensky sucks, but he ain’t Putin. Of course if Red Velvet believes his country should get cuddly with Russia…well never underestimate the American ability to organize a coup. We will replace your corrupt leader with our corrupt leader and you will like it.

US has no real power over anyone

Yes you are right, we are so powerless. It wouldn’t be us behind such a coup, we wouldn’t do such a thing. We just are too innocent and helpless to even pull that off.

No, that’s not what I mean. My point is that any regime change attempt or sovereign interference anywhere is only effective when there’s the alignment from significant internal groups pushing for the same thing. If these domestic people don’t accept American hegemonic narrative, the sand castle of global power falls.

For example, even the Euromaidan thing was only successful because enough Ukrainian people joined that movement to overthrow the government.

Anyway, I like people that are more honest as you. At least in comparison to the fake democracy defenders crying for Ukrainian sovereignty but thinking the exact same thing you said. Everyone knows US wouldn’t accept in Mexico what Russia is expected to accept in Ukraine for example and your logic backs that up.

[CumbrianLefty]

What was Russia "expected to accept" in Ukraine that was so outrageous, exactly?

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

No one but fat-cat oligarchs milking the system would be better off under a Russian-led world system, period. While there are real criticisms to be made of the current American-led liberal order when it comes to Ukraine vs. Russia there is a very clear distinction between brutal authoritarian impearalists and people who just want to live prosperous, peaceful lives. Period.

Also, Mexico is hardly 'aligned' with the US particularly under AMLO so your example falls quite short.

[Red Velvet]

Lmao some lazy “AMLO is a leftist and therefore anti-US” logic in here.

AMLO has been aligned with the United States on everything that matters. Even starting to enforce visa rules towards Latino countries when they weren’t required only because the US demands it.

Naturally that’s not because he would rather do this by choice, but Mexico geographical circumstances bordering a much bigger neighbor force him to this regardless. For everywhere with good sense, it’s never good idea to go all in when you don’t have the geographical conditions to do so.

Compare that to the post-Maidan military rhetoric against Russia and the strengthening of ~questionable~ specific groups (to say the least) having increasing uncontrolled access to big weapons all under the backing of the State.

You put more weapons on the playground, everything changes, which is why never-ending dialogue and diplomacy should be always first option to prevent giant and dangerous misunderstandings. See: Cuban Missile Crisis. Wasn’t Cuba on their sovereign right to have all those weapons on their land then?

People actively pushed for conflict instead of exhaustively choosing the diplomacy route though. It’s a collective failure. Look at figures like Macron or Merkel being ridiculed by these temporary nationalists (only while the hype lasts!) as if they were wrong to pursue a peaceful route.

No wonder when Merkel was out it’s when things exploded, as diplomacy died down. Not just her but also Trump, who was also ridiculed as a “Russian agent” for trying to establish good peaceful relations, because apparently what people always wanted was a big direct war against Russia. I miss when peace was more well-regarded.

Also, world isn’t forced between an US or Russian world led order. That’s a false narrative used to validate American leadership by suggesting the only possible alternative for that is a Russian one when it’s not. There are tons of countries in the planet.