By John Mack Freeman
Late last week, Ukraine passed a law that banned discrimination in the workplace for GLBT people. Via PinkNews:
It specifically says workplace discrimination on the basis of “race, colour, political, religious and other beliefs, sex gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social and foreign origin, age, health, disability or suspected presence of HIV/AIDS, family and property status, family responsibilities, place of residence, or participation in a strike.”
It reads: “The idea is that, if a person is working, we cannot discriminate.”
The LGBT protections were only added to the bill on a sixth vote, after Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Hroysman had already said that the Parliament “stand[s] for family values and will never support gay marriage.”
It is widely believed that Ukraine made this move because they wish to join the Schengen Zone, a pact that allows for free trade and visa-free movement throughout the European Union. EU officials have made it known to several countries the GLBT protections are a requirement to joining the Zone.