Ukraine fails again to ban discrimination against gays

(KIEV) - Ukraine's parliament failed for the second time Tuesday to adopt a ban on anti-gay discrimination in the workplace, though it did vote in five other laws needed to secure visa-free travel to most EU nations.

The European Union in 2010 demanded that Ukraine clearly define the rights of gay people -- who were viewed by the country's former Soviet rulers as criminals who should either be sent to prisons or mental wards -- at work.

Though Ukraine is now run by a pro-EU administration, it remains a deeply religious and conservative country.

Kiev decriminalised gay relationships a year after the Soviet Union's 1991 breakup but it still takes a grim view of same-sex couples.

A gay pride parade held near Kiev in June lasted just minutes before a far-right group attacked it without any apparent intervention from the police.

Brussels wants Ukraine -- which overthrew its former Moscow-backed leadership last year -- to adopt a raft of legislation that takes a tougher approach on corruption and ensures broader basic rights.

Time is running out because an EU commission will review in mid-December whether Kiev has done enough to merit visa-free travel by the middle of next year.

Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko has made joining the Schengen zone -- a club of EU countries that allows visa and passport-free travel to more than 400 million people -- one of his priorities since his election last year.

But time is quickly running out on Poroshenko's dream.

In a vote held last week, the anti-discrimination law collected just 117 votes in the 450-seat parliament.

That number rose to 207 on Tuesday -- still short of the 226 majority needed for the measure to pass.

Squabbling lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill yet again later this week.

Poroshenko met parliamentary faction leaders on the eve of both last week's and Tuesday's readings to convince them of the potential significance of free travel to Europe.

Some of those who refused to back the law want concessions on completely unrelated legislation that deals with such matters as lowering taxes on oil and natural gas.

About 200 protesters defied windy, rainy weather and gathered in front of parliament to urge legislators to finally open the door to Europe.

But Poroshenko put a positive spin on Tuesday's developments because some of his measures had passed.

"Today's vote has brought Ukrainians considerably closer to visa-free travel," he tweeted.

"I hope that lawmakers show responsibility and adopt all the laws necessary for visa-free travel, including the anti-discrimination amendment."