February 2020
POLITICAL VIEWS, PARTICIPATION AND OBSTACLES FOR LGBT+ COMMUNITY AND ALLIES Analytical report
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This initiative is conducted by Fulcrum UA with the support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Global Affairs Canada, and Freedom House.
INTE
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We also thank you for institutional support
The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IFES, Global Affairs Canada and Freedom House, nor the Government of Canada.
Contents
Research design
3
Description of the target audience
4
Political participation of LGBT+ community and allies
7
Political views of LGBT+ community and allies, drivers and barriers to electoral participation
Marriage equality
21
Key findings
23
13
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Research design
TARGET RESPONDENTS → Members of LGBT+ community → Allies of LGBT+ community
GEOGRAPHY
METHOD
SAMPLING
All Ukraine
Online interview
493 interviews
(duration – up to 15 minutes)
FIELD WORK 30 October 2019 – 19 November 2019
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Description of the target audience
Respondent characteristics All respondents 493 100%
LGBT+
→ In general, all socio-economic groups are equally represented, with the exception of the older age group 46+ → Also, among the allies of LGBT+ community women are significantly more represented
Allies of LGBT+ 310 63%
183 37%
37%
49%
17%
59%
45%
81%
4%
5%
2%
33%
42%
19%
34%
30%
40%
25%
23%
27%
8%
5%
14%
1%
2%
1%
11%
13%
7%
5%
5%
4%
8%
9%
7%
16%
19%
12%
54%
47%
64%
5%
5%
7%
QUANTITY OF RESPONDENTS
PA R T I N C O M PA R AT I V E R E L AT I O N TO A W H O L E
GENDER Male Female Non-binary AGE 14-25 years 26-35 years 36-45 years 46 and above E D U CAT I O N L E V E L Elementary / incomplete basic secondary education Complete general secondary education (high school) Vocational education (skilled worker) Incomplete higher education (junior specialist / junior bachelor) Bachelor’s degree Specialist or master’s degree Candidate of Sciences (PhD) or Doctor of Science degree
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Vectors of support for LGBT+ community by allies → In general, all vectors for LGBT+ community are widely supported by allies. There is almost unanimous support for condemning violence against LGBT+ → There is a quite noticeable decrease in support for marriage equality with age – 46+ y.o. respondents are much less in favor of this vector
Which of the following vectors of support for LGBT+ community do you adhere? 94%
91%
96%
90%
89% 82%
74%
88% 82%
I am against violence towards LGBT+ community
85% 73%
Allies
62%
I support ensuring the right to peaceful protest (in particular, to conduct the Equality March)
37%
I support civil partnerships for LGBT+ / marriage equality
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Political participation of LGBT+ community and allies
Participation in Ukraine’s elections in 2019 → Allies are more likely to participate in elections, but in general turnout among LGBT+ and allies is quite high
Official turnout (Central Electoral Commission data)
Presidential election*
Parliamentary election*
62,8%/ 61,37%
Did you participate in the last presidential election in 2019?
Did you participate in the last parliamentary election in July in 2019?
67%
5%
Yes, I voted both in the first and second rounds
Yes, I voted only in the second round
5%
LGBT+
67%
No
Yes
I don't remember / Hard to say
LGBT+
Allies
Allies 0
Only second round
31% 1%
* Researches recognize that social desurability effect may slightly inflate positive responses.
Yes, I voted only in the first round
First and second rounds
49,2%
1% I don't remember / Hard to say
21%
I didn't vote
Only first round
Official turnout (CEC data)
20
40
60
80
100
I didn't vote I don't remember / Hard to say
0
20
40
60
80
100
Yes No
I don't remember / Hard to say
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Engagement in election campaigns →  One third of LGBT+ community and allies participated in the electoral process not only as voters, but also as active participants
LGBT+
Allies
65% 20%
16%
Observer
15%
13%
29% chose one of the alternatives
66%
Only as a voter
Member of local election commission 6%
4%
Confidant
31% chose one of the alternatives
4% 2% Candidate (of any level) 1%
1%
Member of district election commission 6% 3% I don't remember / Hard to say
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Party membership and awareness of majoritarian members of parliament Party membership
Awaneress of a majoritarian MP
Are you a member of any political party in Ukraine?
Do you know who is a member of a parliament from your constituency (a majoritarian MP)?
1% Yes, I occasionally participate in activities of a political party
It is not typical of LGBT+ and allies to be members of political parties
1% Yes, I am actively involved in activities of a political party
21%
4%
Yes, but I am not actively involved in activities of a political party
94%
Yes, but I am not sure
45% Yes, I know for sure
I am not a political party member
33% I don't know
Self-evaluation of knowledge of majoritarian MPs is quite high, which may indicate a more thorough examination of local politicians
According to a research, by the end of 2015 – 96% of the population of Ukraine were not members of any political party
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
→ LGBT+ community demonstrates high involvement in political actions
Political participation
→ The level of interest in the country’s political life is quite high among LGBT+ community and allies
Participation in political actions Have you participated in political actions, rallies and / or protests in the last 12 months?
37%
63%
LGBT+
Yes, I have participated in rallies
44%
Allies 0
20
40
56%
60
80
No, I haven't participated in rallies
100
Interest in political news How often are you interested in / read political news?
63%
LGBT+
21%
21% Allies
0
20
40
60
80
4%
3%
5%
Every day or almost every day
3%
Once or several times a week 2-3 times a month
4%
2%
7%
2% 100
Once a month Less frequently / Not regularly Hard to say / No answer
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Forms of political activity →  More than a third of LGBT+ community and allies tend to be active when it comes to political events: they participate in rallies, produce their own content online or send requests to authorities
Attitudes to political events Which of the following describe your activity in relation to political events? Allies
LGBT+
I tend to read more, and rarely comment or publish content about political events I tend to comment and respond to the activity of others, but rarely publish my own content about political events I comment on political events only when necessary I avoid speaking out and participating in political events
38%
44%
22%
22%
19%
21%
14%
14%
Active attitude to political events 27%
I participate in various political actions, rallies and protests I actively express my views, publish my own content, comment on political events in social networks / forums
16%
I follow the legislative process, write requests and appeals to the authorities, political forces
16%
43% chose at least one alternative
20% 17%
38% chose at least one alternative
13%
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Political views, drivers and obstacles to electoral participation for LGBT+ community and allies
Factors for support for political parties → For LGBT+ community one of the main factors for choosing a political force is the topic of human rights in relation to LGBT+ → Allies are significantly more likely to pay attention on a political force’s position towards counteraction to Russian aggression, but to lesser extent to a position on the support of human rights for LGBT+ All
LGBT+
Support of human rights for LGBT+, including March of equality, civil partnerships / marriage equality
62%
Position of a political party on foreign affairs (membership in the EU, NATO, etc.)
62%
Position of political forces on hostilities and countering Russian aggression
What do you pay attention to when choosing a political party to support?
68%
37%
Reputation / personality of a leader and/or team members
32%
Position of a political party on economic package (economic prosperity of the country)
46%
34%
20%
17%
Position of a political force on the environmental and animal protection
18%
17%
Popularity of a political force among the population, rating I traditionally vote for the certain political force
14%
Other
0% 2%
41% 40% 27%
25%
Position of a political party on health care reform
2%
61% 44%
28%
26%
I choose the best option from what is offered (by the “lesser evil” principle)
67%
43%
43%
Previous activities of a political force
52%
59%
52%
Ideological orientation of a political force (conservatism, liberalism, etc.)
Allies
16% 2% 0% 1%
27% 20% 10% 1% 0% 3%
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Drivers to electoral participation → In general, main drivers to electoral participation are the ability to influence a situation in the country and a sense of civic duty → The driver of trust in candidates has a rather low rate, and is not a motivating factor to vote
All
My voice is important, it is an opportunity to influence a situation in the country
66%
I don’t participate in elections What motivates you personally take part in the elections?
I am used to voting Other
10% 6%
68%
47%
18%
I don’t want to have my voice “stolen”
Allies
65%
48%
Voting is a duty of every conscious citizen
Trust in candidates for whom I vote, and a confidence that they can make a change
LGBT+
51% 19%
18% 10% 7%
1%
1%
1%
1%
10% 3% 0% 1%
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Obstacles for political activity → Personal reasons (lack of time) and distrust of political forces prevent LGBT+ community and allies from active participation in political life → At the same time, there is a small percentage of those who have lost trust in possible changes in the country, as well as those who deliberately avoid politics
All
LGBT+
47%
Lack of time for such activity
What stops you from being active politically?
44%
35%
Distrust of political forces
21%
21%
Distrust of the possibility of change for better in the country
18%
20%
I am satisfied with everything as it is now
10% 1%
53%
35%
Reluctance to be involved in political process
Other
Allies
12% 2%
36% 22% 14% 7% 1%
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Awareness about political forces’ support for LGBT+ → Half of LGBT+ community and allies don’t know who publicly supports issues related to LGBT+ → Only a third can name at least one political force which publicly supports LGBT+ community
Awareness about those who support LGBT+
Write a name of a political force / political leader/s who publicly support LGBT+ Answers of the respondents of the survey
M. Nayyem Ukraine’s Green Party
20% I know, but don't remember
Democratic alliance
50% I don't know
30% I can name
S. Zalishchuk
Democratic axe M. Nefedov
Voice/ S. Vakarchuk
Selfhelp / A. Sadovyi/O. Syroyid V. Zelenskyi
Power of people
U. Suprun N. Veselova
Y. Sokolova
European solidarity / Poroshenko S. Leshchenko
Common Action
I. Gerashchenko
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
How can LGBT+ community and allies support a political force? → Most often LGBT+ community and allies are ready to support a political force which is open to them – with voting and their activity in social networks → More than a third of respondents are ready to participate in rallies in a support of political forces which promote human rights for LGBT+, and a third of the LGBT+ community are even ready to officially join such political party Allies
LGBT+
77%
To vote in the elections To support with comments and posts in social networks
75% 58%
54% 44%
To take part in political rallies, actions of this force
33% 32%
To join a political force (to become a member of a political party)
13% 19%
Money contributions
14%
Not ready for any actions in favor of this political force
3%
4%
Readiness to vote for a “low electoral support” force 41%
LGBT+
36%
10% 4%
9%
Totally ready to support Rather ready to support
43%
34%
9% 4%
10%
Rather NOT ready to support Not ready to support
Allies 0
20
40
60
80
100
Hard to say
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Vector of a country’s direction through the eyes of LGBT+ and allies → Unconditional support for European integration and rapprochement with NATO LGBT+
From your point of view, in which direction Ukraine has to move?
I support enhanced cooperation and rapprochement with the EU and the West
I support rapprochement with Russia If a referendum on Ukraine's membership in the EU was carried out, how would you vote?
If a referendum on Ukraine's membership in NATO was carried out, how would you vote?
14%
2%
0%
1% 92%
Hard to say
4%
I am against Ukraine joining the EU
3%
90% 5% 3% 2%
1%
I support Ukraine joining NATO Hard to say
19%
3%
I support Ukraine joining the EU
I would not participate in such referendum
78%
83%
Ukraine has to choose its own path of development Hard to say
Allies
85% 9%
84% 10%
I would not participate in such referendum
4%
3%
I am against Ukraine joining NATO
3%
4%
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Political values of LGBT+ community and allies → LGBT+ community and allies are guided by liberal and social democratic political values LGBT+
LIBERALISM Respect for human rights and freedoms The rule of law and a law-governed state Free economy (a state does not intervene in economic processes)
29%
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY Respect for equal rights for all citizens without exception Social support for vulnerable people Tax on «over-capital», increasing taxes for very wealthy people
What values should support a political party?
20%
LIBERTARIANISM Reducing the role of a state in all spheres COMMUNISM Economic equality for citizens Large companies should be state-owned
41%
Allies
87% 70%
32%
69% 16%
39%
88% 76%
68%
14%
12%
8% 2%
5% 3%
NATIONALIS M Interests of a nation must be prioritized over individuals’ interests
2%
4%
CONS ERVATISM The advantage of collective values over individual Traditional values (family, religion, traditions, etc.)
1% 1%
1% 0%
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Marriage equality
Relevance of marriage equality for LGBT+ community → Among those who are in a relationship the majority would take the opportunity to legalize their relationship, which demonstrates a high relevance for LGBT + community of obtaining this right
Are you currently in a relationship?
5% Hard to say
Would you take the opportunity to register a civil partnership / marry your partner in the nearest future?
52% Yes, in a relationship
For those who answered “Yes”
Yes, would get married No, would not get married
Hard to say
67%
13% 21%
43% No, NOT in a relationship
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Key findings
Key findings
1.
LGBT + community and allies demonstrate high electoral activity, and the self-evaluation shows more than 64% electoral engagement in elections (by voting) in 2019
Such activity is also traced to active 2. engagement in the electoral process
(as observers, confidants, etc.) — one third of respondents were active participants of the electoral process.
Political awareness is more often 3. observed through the other forms of
political activity: reading political news and occasional commenting (38% – LGBT+ community, and 44% – allies).
However, at the same time, about a third of respondents also choose active forms of political engagement: participation in rallies, publication of their own content, requests to the authorities Political views of LGBT+ community 4. and allies are based on liberal and social democratic statements
The main drivers for political 5. participation are the opportunity
to influence situation in the country and civic duty. Personal reasons and distrust of political forces appear as obstacles for political activity
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
Key findings A key factor for supporting a political 6. force for LGBT+ community is a
70% of respondents are ready 8. toAbout vote in the elections for a political
7.
of marriage equality 9. isRelevance quite high, as 67% would use
position on supporting human rights for LGBT+. Allies are more likely to pay attention to a political force’s position on countering Russian aggression, while a position on supporting human rights for LGBT+ is less significant 50% of respondents know politicians who have officially supported human rights for LGBT+ to a certain extent, and a third of them could recall their last names
force, which supports human rights for LGBT+. This intention does not depend on the popularity of the party, and more than 70% are ready to vote for a “low electoral support” party if the party supports human rights for LGBT+
this opportunity in the case of legislative settlement of the civil partnerships / same-sex marriage
Political views, participation and obstacles for LGBT+ community and allies
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