Rada speaker discusses legalization of same-sex marriage in Rivne region
Ruslan Stefanchuk suggested that sponsors of separate bills to legalize same-sex marriage personally make their case to Ukrainians.
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk discussed with local officials and members of the public in Ostroh a provision on legalizing same-sex marriage in the draft of Ukraine’s new Civil Code, Suspilne Rivne reports.
During the discussion, Rivne Regional Council Chairman Andrii Karaush urged the parliament speaker not to allow provisions recognizing registered same-sex unions or marriages to be included in the new Civil Code. Karaush stressed that society in the region is traditionally built on family and Christian values and would not accept such changes.
In response, Stefanchuk said the bill’s drafters had decided to postpone controversial provisions that could cause conflict in society. According to Stefanchuk, Article 51 of the Ukrainian Constitution clearly defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, while amendments to the Constitution cannot be made during martial law.
Stefanchuk also noted that most European Union countries regulate such matters through separate legislation rather than as part of a comprehensive Civil Code. “We have draft laws in Ukraine as well. I would simply recommend that the authors of those bills get together, travel across Ukraine, and convince everyone,” the parliament speaker added.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the UOC chancellor spoke out against recognizing LGBT as a norm for the sake of joining the EU.
