LGBTQ+ Ukrainians: Facing Putin's War

Photo Courtesy of opendemocracy.net, “Love is Beautiful.”

On February 24th, Russia invaded Ukraine, and the world has not stopped speculating since. What will be the outcome of this fight? Will other states step in to aid Ukraine? What is Putin’s end goal? Will Kyiv fall? Is this the beginning of a third world war, but this time, the entire world has nuclear weaponry?

For human rights activists, the question lies in the concept of an intolerant state invading a slightly less intolerant state. For example, will LGBTQ+ Ukrainians lose the rights they fought so desperately to gain? If Ukraine falls to Putin, what does that mean for queer citizens?

The reality for LGBTQ+ people in Russia is not optimal. Putin’s authoritarian regime—which he has disguised as electoral democracy despite a lack of objectively free and fair elections and political competition—has ensured that human rights are removed over time after coming to presidential power in 2000. The Kremlin’s 2013 “Gay Propaganda” Law makes it illegal to promote “nontraditional sexual relations to minors” (Human Rights Watch). The vague nature of this law means that anything from posting on social media to reporting on LGBTQ+ issues to hosting a pride parade becomes criminal… and an immense financial burden, as hefty fines can range from 70 dollars for the individual to nearly 15,000 dollars for LGBTQ+-protecting organizations. The Russian government has disillusioned its supporters into believing that anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is a method of protecting “traditional values”.

Russia scores a measly 19% on the GBGR and a slightly-better-but-still-pretty-terrible 24% on the GBTR. Russia is an outlier for Central/Eastern Europe/Eurasia.

 

Photo Courtesy of fandmglobalbarometers.org.

On the other hand, Ukraine scores significantly better (though still has two dissatisfying F’s) on both the GBGR and the GBTR. Ukraine is not a significant outlier in Central/Eastern Europe/Eurasia.

Photo Courtesy of fandmglobalbarometers.org.

Because many post-Soviet nations still feel heavy ties to Russia, any decision the Kremlin makes will inevitably influence the ideologies of its previous body. However, while this influence may have been indirect before, by invading Ukraine, Russia is working to consume its neighbor with anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. After all, Russia’s attempt to control Kyiv feels reminiscent of Putin’s siege of Chechnya in 1999-2000, and now Chechnya is notorious for its anti-gay purges in 2017 and 2019 (HRW).

What evidence is there that Ukraine could become the next state under Russian control to mistreat its LGBTQ+ population? 

LGBTQ+ Ukrainians have already begun to seek refuge in Poland and Hungary, two countries which are not LGBTQ+ protecting. Poland performs the same on the GBGR as Ukraine, but performs worse on the GBTR (53%). Though Hungary scores considerably better than Ukraine on the GBGR (78%), the country performs worse on the GBTR (53%).

While LGB Ukrainians may be able to find paths to escape, transgender citizens are struggling. Zi Faámelu, a trans Ukrainian singer, fears leaving her house—even to get food—due to the increasingly violent atmosphere outside for her people (CBS News). Even if trans Ukrainians can reach the border, many officials will bar international travel if the gender identity on their passport does not match their gender expression. Also, Ukrainian trans women who have not undergone a physical transition and who are still labeled as male on their ID may be recruited into the military and barred from leaving the country, even as gender identity minorities are restricted from serving in the Ukrainian military (NPR).

Photo Courtesy of NPR.org.

In late February, the U.S. warned the United Nations that Russia had compiled a “kill list” of Ukrainians that would be in danger following the invasion. Targets included: “journalists, activists, ethnic and religious minorities, and LGBTQ Ukrainians” (NPR). It is clear, then, that Russia has no plan to protect LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine and will instead attempt to extinguish any attempts to report on its wrongdoings.

However, LGBTQ+ Ukrainians are accustomed to publicly defending their rights. During the first pride marches in Ukraine, activists demonstrated their pride while facing violence by anti-LGBTQ+ groups. Violence erupted at a 2015 pride march when aggressors threw “flares and firecrackers packed with nails,” injuring 12 people (GLAAD). While this march lasted merely 10 minutes due to the attack, today’s pride marches in Ukraine last far longer and feature thousands and thousands of participants.

The horrific persecution of the LGBTQ+ community through invasion is not new for Russia, but defending their right to exist is not new for LGBTQ+ Ukrainians, either. Despite the power Putin holds, there is hope that Ukraine will continue to fight to protect its people. For now, we can only donate to Ukrainian human rights groups, educate ourselves, protest, and wait.

Sources:

1. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/ukraine-lgbtiq-community-rallying-resist-russia-invasion/

2. https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/12/no-support/russias-gay-propaganda-law-imperils-lgbt-youth#

3. https://www.fandmglobalbarometers.org/

4. https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/31/no-end-chechnyas-violent-anti-gay-campaign

5. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transgender-woman-transphobia-russia-ukraine-invasion/

6. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/04/1084321690/lgbtq-refugees-fleeing-ukraine-face-discrimination-in-countries-with-anti-gay-la

7. https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082096026/russia-kill-list-ukraine

8. https://www.glaad.org/blog/anti-lgbt-activists-attack-marchers-kiev-pride-event

9. https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/03/06/1084766289/ukraine-russia-war-pictures-refugees

Link to Help: https://www.glaad.org/blog/lgbtq-ukrainians-fight-their-country-and-their-lives-heres-how-you-can-help