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Ultra-nationalist mobsters thwarted a transgender parade in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, spraying tear gas at participants and brawling with riot police who apparently failed to protect the gathering, local media reported.Now watch as the media jumps all over Ukraine for being a homophobic haunt of horrific humans... oh wait, never mind... It takes Russia's foreign-language service to inform the world about it.
Ukrainian LGBT activists planned to march through downtown Kiev on Sunday, but the event - intended to commemorate transgender victims of hate crime - never took place. As people began to gather outside one of the city's metro stations, they were confronted by far-right radicals, who had previously threatened to target the parade.
The standoff became more violent when the radicals began throwing smoke bombs at the activists. The attackers were also heard yelling nationalist slogans such as "Glory to the nation, death to the enemies," and "Ukraine above all."
There was a large police presence at the event, but when the situation became more tense, the security forces seemed incapable of separating the two groups.
Far-right groups, which played a key role in the violent 2014 coup in Ukraine, don't seem to be losing their influence amid worsening economic downturn and radicalization of the country's politics.
The ultra-nationalist thugs have no qualms about using violence against those who they consider enemies, including LGBT activists, ethnic minorities and media representatives, who they claim support Russia.
As Ukraine is seeking closer ties with Europe, the country's authorities have officially pledged their support for sexual minorities, and have advocated LGBT rights.
No LGBT public event in the country occurs without provocation by nationalists. A gay parade in Kiev this June was called off after just 20 minutes, as more than a hundred radicals tried to attack the activists. They shouted "Shame on you" and "Ukraine is no Sodom," as they clashed with police, resulting in more than 50 arrests.

"To Kill a Mockingbird may only be taught in Peel secondary schools, beginning this school year, if instruction occurs through a critical, anti-oppression lens," declared the School Board in a recent memo. "When To Kill a Mockingbird is taught outside of this context, the novel has the potential to cause hurt and harm. As educators, we have an obligation to provide learning environments that are safe and inclusive - that honour staff and students' identities, cultures and lived experiences, including those of the Black community. Of this, there can be no debate."
Comment: Efrati is not alone among those with conscience in Israel's military to speak out against the slow-motion genocide of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip: