Friendship of Peoples Arch in Kyiv may be turned into an LGBT symbol
According to the head of the UINM, if the "Right Sector" opposes turning the arch into an LGBT symbol, it means it is no longer perceived as a Soviet symbol.
The head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINM), Anton Drobovych, stated that the Freedom Arch of the Ukrainian People (formerly the Friendship of Peoples Arch) can be turned into an LGBT symbol.
Drobovych envisions three possible scenarios for the future of this object. According to him, the first scenario is complete demolition. The second option is to leave it as it is, which would eventually lead to forced demolition, as citizens would ultimately take it down themselves, similar to what happened with Lenin statues.
"The third option is to keep the arch and transform it, like in 2017, into a rainbow symbol representing LGBT or simply a rainbow over the water," Drobovych said.
He noted that the rainbow option is the only one that truly redefines this object, creating a new context and new discussion around it.
He emphasized that the crack on the arch, made by Volodymyr Kuznetsov, is a "strong statement but did not become viral or change the public perception enough for it to be commonly referred to as the ‘Cracked Peoples’ Arch".
"But the rainbow works! This became evident immediately when the 'Right Sector' opposed it, indicating that it is no longer perceived as a Soviet symbol," added the head of UINP.
As earlier reported by the UOJ, Netflix will air a Ukrainian LGBT series sponsored by the State Film Agency.
