Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists attend a rally in front of parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. Protesters urges the parliament to support the adoption of laws necessary for visa-free regime with the EU, including the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in employment. AP
KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a bill that bans discrimination of gays, key legislation intended to help pave the way for visa-free travel between Ukraine and the European Union.
The 450-seat parliament on Thursday approved the bill with 234 votes. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed parliament’s action as a “historic” move that brought the nation close to its longtime goal of winning the visa-free regime.
Ukrainian authorities have sought to forge closer ties with the EU amid a conflict with Russia, which annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and supported pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.
The bill banning discrimination of gays at workplace had been rejected on four previous attempts, reflecting a strong opposition from those in parliament who saw the document as a challenge to the country’s Orthodox Christian traditions.
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