Ukraine’s LGBT community is standing together in solidarity as the country continues to be invaded by Russian forces. LGBT activists in Kiev have gone from planning Pride events to running refugee shelters in order to support the community. The Kiev Pride organization is now operating several LGBT shelters across Ukraine. With the organization’s activists now focusing on supporting LGBT refugees rather than organizing the city’s Pride events.
Reports indicate that many of the refugees are coming from Mariupol, Kharkiv and other parts of eastern Ukraine that have been heavily targeted by Russian forces. The shelters offer them food vouchers, medicine, job advice and clothes to wear at job interviews or when exploring the city. Some guests use the shelter to get away from homophobic family members and other unsafe environments as the conflict has crushed Ukraine’s economy. Shelter guests have been quoted saying that they hope that the millions of refugees that have left Ukraine return to rebuild the country’s economy once the conflict is over.
While living in terror of shelling and other Russian attacks, LGBT activists in Ukraine also have to live in fear of homophobic aggressions. The current situation has contributed to there being a sense of lawlessness in certain parts of the country that puts vulnerable communities at risk. A Ukrainian LGBT group that tracks anti-gay attacks was ransacked in March and several staff members were physically assaulted.