Meeting took place during weekly audience at St. Peter's Basilica on Aug. 10.
Embassy Cultural Attaché Cherrie Daniels spoke with Blade on July 22
Dmitry Shapoval swam across river to flee Ukraine
Russia launched war against Ukraine in February
Small European country's family code revised
Handful of other European countries have passed similar laws
Discriminatory law, efforts to breach telecom rules challenged
Country's voters in 2015 rejected marriage equality law
Activists recently criticized ousted Conservative Party leader over transphobic comments
"Heartstopper" cast members troll anti-LGBTQ protesters
