The struggles of queer Ukrainians in the ongoing war

by Christine Kinori

The Russo-Ukraine war has been going on for almost three weeks, forcing over 2.5 million Ukrainians to leave their homes and livelihood and flee the war. History has proven that when a crisis happens, the minority groups in society become even more vulnerable to bias and abuse. The war in Ukraine has intensified the vulnerability of the Black and the LGBTQ2+ community as they try to flee.

As many Ukrainians flee to the neighbouring countries of Poland and Hungary, transgender women from Ukraine are unable to leave Ukraine. Their national IDs still identify them as male and according to the country’s conscription laws, men have to stay behind and fight. This has left many transgender women and non-binary people stranded, in hiding, and scared for their lives.

In an interview with Vice World News, a trans woman in Ukraine spoke of her fear of being caught trying to leave and ending up being forced to join the Ukrainian Army as a ‘man’. Another trans woman has no choice but to remain alone in her neighbourhood because she is wary of the transphobic attacks that she will undergo if she tries to leave. There is currently a lack of security and safety measures to protect them from verbal or physical transphobic attacks.

There have been reported many instances where LGBTQ2+ individuals were denied help or forced to wait unfairly before being assisted in passing through border checkpoints .

Alliance for Queer Emergency Aid for Ukraine

Human Rights Groups have tried to step in and are advising transgender and non-binary people to lose their national identification cards to be able to leave. A newly-formed Alliance for Queer Emergency Aid for Ukraine located in Germany is also trying to help. They are in contact with over 40 trans women and non-binary people in Ukraine and have shared their names with the government in hopes they can be safely evacuated. Unfortunately, given the ongoing situation in Ukraine, evacuations organized by federal governments are prohibited leaving hundreds of trans and non-binary people in a difficult and seriously dangerous situation in Ukraine.

There is also the concern of what will happen to the queer Ukrainians who have managed to flee to countries such as Poland and Hungary that have anti-gay laws. They will have a new set of challenges that they will need to overcome. Poland does not recognize same-sex marriages and also has “LGBTQ+ free zones.”

Activists step forward

Queer activists from Poland and Hungary are doing their best to give a helping hand to queer refugees. They are working round the clock to provide shelter and food to the refugees. They want to ensure LGBTQ2+ refugees are not placed in shelters or huge places where their safety may be compromised.

Members of Queer Spaces Network, an organization in the Czech Republic, are providing help to refugees arriving at the Slovak border and other LGBTQ+ groups are doing the same in Poland, Hungary and Romania.

Hungarian activists are working to make sure queer refugees have a safe place to go once they get to the country. Along with their Polish counterparts, they have hung posters and distributed leaflets along their borders. These will help LGBTQ2+ refugees know where to reach out for help. They are also using social media to advocate for the trans-people who are unable to leave the country and hope to find a solution.

Meanwhile in Ukraine

As the war progresses and supply chains are disrupted, electricity and water are cut off, transgender Ukrainians stuck in the country fear losing access to the hormone medications they require.

And many queer people fear a future Ukraine under Russian occupation. While LGBTQ+ people already endure abuse and harassment from Ukraine’s far-right sector, Russia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has also faced growing persecution and intolerance.

You can help

From XTRA MAGAZINE - Activists and organizations in Ukraine and abroad have taken steps to help Ukrainians whose sexual preference or gender identity puts them at additional risk. From international fundraisers to local grassroots efforts, here are 12 ORGANIZATIONS you can support.

Christine Kinori is a queer travel freelance writer. “I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new culture. I believe in equality and I want my daughter to live in a better world.”