17/05/2026
Odesa Pride is back on the streets of Odesa🏳️🌈🇺🇦
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For the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war, the LGBT+ community of Odesa took to the streets of our hometown again.
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For us, this was not just a Pride march. It was a return — to Odesa, to our streets, to visibility, and to the right to be present in the public space of our own city.
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Odesa Pride began in 2015. Our path has never been simple: we have faced attacks, pressure, threats, and fear. But we have also had years of growth, solidarity, strength, safety, and inspiration — years when Pride became a space where our community could breathe, speak, and be seen.
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After the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the streets of Odesa were no longer safe for public Pride events. For several years, we could not march in our own city.
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But we were not left alone‼️
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Cities, Pride initiatives, partner organisations, and friends in different countries stood with us. Thanks to international solidarity, we were able to join events abroad, speak about the lives of LGBT+ people in southern Ukraine, and keep our voice alive when visibility in Odesa was almost impossible.
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This year, we decided: it was time to return.
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Our slogan, “Dignity is worth fighting for,” turned out to be painfully accurate. This year’s Pride march was attacked by radical groups who tried to disrupt the event and intimidate us.
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But they did not succeed.
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We came out🏳️🌈
We marched🏳️🌈
We were visible🏳️🌈
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Despite the attack, Odesa Pride took place. We are grateful to the Odesa police for their prompt response, protection, and support in ensuring the safety of participants.
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We will not be intimidated. The attack on Pride only shows that our struggle for basic human rights is far from over — and that our visibility is still needed.
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This return belongs to everyone who stood with us: our community, volunteers, partners, Pride initiatives, human rights defenders, and friends in Ukraine and abroad.
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Thank you for your solidarity. Thank you for helping us stay visible when it was hardest❤️🔥❤️🔥
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Dignity is worth fighting for🏳️🌈🇺🇦
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And there is more to come!
