Ukraine’s Zelensky vows to consider same-sex marriage – once war is over

Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that he will ask Ukraine’s government to look into legalising same-sex marriage after the war with Russia ends.

Ukraine’s constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

But last month, a petition calling for the legalisation of marriage equality in Ukraine gained more than 28,000 signatures, passing the 25,000 threshold required for it to be considered by the president.

The petition cited Ukraine’s constitution, which states that “all people are free and equal in their dignity and rights”, and that “human rights are inalienable and inviolable”.

On Tuesday (2 August), Zelensky formally responded. According to Reuters, in an official decree, he said: “I asked prime minister [Denys] Shmyhal to address the issue raised in the electronic petition and to inform me of relevant decisions.”

However, he noted that no changes would be made while the war with Russia was ongoing, as according to Article 157 of the Constitution of Ukraine: “In conditions of war or a state of emergency, the Constitution of Ukraine cannot be changed.”

LGBTQ+ rights activists are asking for civil partnerships to be considered in the meantime, especially as without recognition of same-sex partnerships, the partners of LGBTQ+ soldiers who have died while fighting the Russian invasion cannot collect their bodies to bury them.

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