The Overton window is shifting further: protecting the rights of LGBT military personnel is on the agenda in Ukraine

Yesterday in Kharkiv, a “lesbian wedding” took place between a Ukrainian military officer, Alina Shevchenko, who serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and an LGBT rights activist, Stanislava Petlytsya.

As reported by Telegram-channels, this performance was part of the LGBTQ+ Pride event and aimed to “draw attention to the issue of the lack of marriage equality for all couples.”

It served as a unique act in support of Law 9103 proposed by Irina Sovsun, which focuses on registered (civil) partnerships and aims to regulate relationships for same-sex couples. Sovsun mentioned during the project’s introduction that she developed it after engaging with LGBTQ+ military personnel.

Currently, same-sex marriages are not allowed in Ukraine. However, considering the trends, Ukraine seems to be moving rapidly in that direction, embracing “progressive European values,” although primarily in societal rather than economic aspects. The phrase “Ukraine is Europe!” captures this sentiment.