Ukraine's New Law Would Ignore Same-Sex Couples

Ukraine's parliament held an important vote on 28 April. They approved a major update to the national civil code. This update raises serious concerns for LGBTQ+ people.

The new draft law passed its first reading. It does not include same-sex couples in the marriage definition. This is a major problem for equality rights in Ukraine.

Recently, Ukraine's Supreme Court made a landmark decision. The court recognised that same-sex partnerships count as families. This was a hopeful moment for many LGBTQ+ Ukrainians.

But parliament is not following this example. Instead, lawmakers are choosing to write discrimination into law. They are ignoring the court's important step forward.

Without legal recognition, same-sex partners face many daily challenges. They cannot make medical decisions for each other. They do not have the same inheritance rights as married couples. They also lack legal protection in many other areas.

Human rights organisations are very concerned. They say the draft law is a step backwards. Activists have already taken to the streets in protest. In Kyiv's Mariinsky Park, people held signs reading "Civil Code Is Step Back."

The protest took place on 5 May 2026. Demonstrators called on parliament members to listen to human rights experts. They asked lawmakers to include amendments protecting LGBTQ+ people.

Ukraine wants to join the European Union. EU membership requires countries to respect human rights. Excluding same-sex couples from legal protection could create problems for Ukraine's EU ambitions.

LGBTQ+ activists say there is still time to fix the law. The bill must go through more readings before it becomes law. They are urging parliament to make changes now.

Human Rights Watch is closely following the situation. The organisation calls on Ukrainian lawmakers to align the civil code with equality standards. They say every family deserves legal protection, regardless of who they love.

The coming weeks will be critical. LGBTQ+ Ukrainians and their allies are watching parliament closely. They hope the final law will reflect the court's recognition of their families.