LGBT сenter urges UCCRO to recognize gay rights for Ukraine’s EU accession

Will the leadership of the OCU and the UGCC have to make concessions on LGBT issues? Photo: UOJ

The LGBT human rights organization Nash Svit has called on the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) to publicly support gay rights, arguing that doing so is a prerequisite for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The appeal was published on the organization's Facebook page.

The statement followed the UCCRO delegation's visit to Brussels on June 23, 2026. During a meeting with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, members of the delegation assured their European counterparts that Ukrainian Churches and religious organizations support Ukraine's path toward EU membership, referring to the choice made by the Ukrainian people "during the two Maidans."

"The bishops of the OCU, the UGCC, the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, and the major Protestant associations should understand exactly what Ukraine is joining: a union of liberal democratic countries where respect for human rights, equality, and the prohibition of discrimination – including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity – are fundamental values. Accession to the EU is impossible without embracing these values and modern European standards in this area, including the recognition and protection of the rights of same-sex family partners," the organization stated.

Nash Svit also asserted that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has "withdrawn itself" from participation in the UCCRO.

As the UOJ previously reported, according to Viktor Yelensky, members of the UCCRO are prepared to make compromises regarding LGBT-related issues.

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