Taking a lead from St. Petersburg, Russia, a group of Ukrainian lawmakers hopes to ban gay "propaganda", the AP reports:

The recently introduced bill, supported by the president's representative in Parliament, would impose prison terms of up to five years and unspecified fines for spreading the “propaganda of homosexuality,” which the measure defines as positive depictions of gays in public.

It has prompted outrage from rights organizations in Ukraine and beyond that condemn the bill as a throwback to Soviet times, when homosexuality was a criminal offense. They also warn that the bill could lead to an increase in H.I.V. infections in Ukraine by driving gay people underground.

In May, a Gay Pride event was canceled in Ukraine after police refused to protect LGBT activists. The cancelation followed the beating of a a gay activist earlier in the month, which took place as media looked on.

In related news, AFP recently reported that 73 people have been prosecuted under St. Petersburg's anti-gay law.