Ukraine hasn’t had the greatest track record when it comes to how it treats their LGBT+ residents. Though social values are slowly changing, the country does make frequent headlines for the violent hate crimes against same-sex couples.
It also doesn’t help that same-sex couple and transgender citizens are denied several basic rights afforded to their cisgender heterosexual counterparts.
But none of this seems to faze Aussie Eurovision host and openly gay man Joel Creasey.
"Obviously, they don’t have a great track record there,” he tells SBS. “but apart from my 21st birthday, they’re about to have the gayest event in the history of the world happen in their city.”
Creasey is even hopeful events like Eurovision, which are all about bringing people together. could be a catalyst for change.
“I think it’s going to be a pretty great time to be in Ukraine. And I think, you know, we might be able to change a few minds while we’re there.”
