With the Russian war on Ukraine nearing 14 months, there may not be Pride parades taking place, but that hasn’t stopped queer and trans Ukrainians from fighting for each other’s health, safety and human rights.
For Conrad Breyer, an organizer with Munich Kyiv Queer, the past year has been overwhelming and draining, but not hopeless.
The organization has pivoted from raising awareness and holding demonstrations to protecting LGBTQIA+ individuals struggling to survive in the war-torn country of Ukraine.
As Breyer explained, Munich Kyiv Queer has two missions.
Their primary objective is helping queer and trans people in Ukraine who are in need of essentials like shelter, clothing, food and prescription medication.
That’s in addition to helping LGBTQIA+ Ukrainian refugees settle in communities across Germany.
Munich Kyiv Queer is part of an alliance called Queer Emergency Ukraine, made up of about 50 organizations in Germany that collect funds for vulnerable Ukrainians.
When the invasion began in February 2022, people from across the globe began donating to groups like Munich Kyiv Queer to help those in need. But, as Breyer noted, the funds have started to dry up as the war carries on.
Right now, the organization is only able to allocate 200 euros per person.
“We were more generous in the beginning, but we barely get any donations anymore,” Breyer said.
The organization’s efforts have raised approximately 180,000 euros since the start of the invasion. Breyer says they are down to just 5,000 euros in the bank.
Overall, Queer Emergency Ukraine has raised closer to one million euros, with half of those funds still available to spend.
Initially, many Germans were more than happy to open their homes to queer and trans Ukrainian refugees. But with the high cost of living in Munich, the number of host families quickly dissipated.
In response, Breyer helped create Munich Queer Homes. The group has rented four flats across the city to offer temporary housing to five or six people in shared living spaces.
On top of that, there are German language lessons and training to help Ukrainian refugees find jobs in a new country.
Munich Kyiv Queer shifts from advocacy to refugee organization
As Breyer told rabble.ca in the early days of the war, Munich Kyiv Queer began in 2012 to bridge the LGBTQIA+ communities of the twin cities.
Before the invasion, the organization focused on political actions, workshops, youth exchanges, art exhibitions, discussions and film screenings.
Now a refugee organization, the team of 12 is feeling burnt out and exhausted. But still, they carry on.
Asked if the world has forgotten about Ukraine, Breyer suggested the war has become normalized and the majority of people have become desensitized to the human rights violations occurring on a daily basis.
But Breyer doesn’t blame those who have let the war in Ukraine move to the backburner. After all, he says, there’s an affordability crisis impacting people on a global scale.
“They have their own sorrows and need to care for themselves,” he said.
To Breyer, the war represents a threat to democratic liberal societies. He noted that if you listen to Vladimir Putin’s words carefully, the invasion represents an ideology of hate.
“Everything we stand for,” he said. “Our way of living, of sharing values, this society of empathy we are building for several years now — that’s under attack.”
But whether Putin wins the war or not, the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in Ukraine have already suffered drastic changes. Most have lost their jobs, some have lost their homes, and too many have lost family and friends.
“That’s a vulnerable group. They can’t rely on stable family structures often,” Breyer explained. “For many, they are isolated, they need protection, they look for shelters, and have special medication needs,” like HIV medication and hormone therapy.
Donations needed more than ever
Despite everything, many in Ukraine’s LGBTQIA+ community have made every effort to preserve a sense of normalcy, whether it’s by going out with friends or grabbing a coffee at a local cafe. But as more people flee their homes in Ukraine, the number of activists helping those who remain behind dwindles as well.
“They need activists to help them because they are still in crisis,” Breyer said. “They provide hygiene and food kits, medicine, psychological support, and legal consulting.”
While the next Pride march in Ukraine is likely far off, community building with LGBTQIA+ individuals continues, whether it’s self-care workshops or cultural events.
“Because they continue their life and need to know what to do, and the community still exists and they stick together,” Breyer said. “But of course, they need help.”
The best way to help, Breyer added, is by donating.
Without jobs, many Ukrainians have no source of income. Even though supermarkets remain open in some communities, the cost of food is becoming more prohibitive by the day. For just 25 euros, donors can help provide a food kit for one Ukrainian.
How the invasion inadvertently helped LGBTQIA+ acceptance
While Breyer noted Ukraine was never considered a “queer paradise” before the war, he’s seen a surge of support for LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
With so many openly queer and trans Ukrainians fighting in the army and assisting with national defence, the war has unexpectedly helped the LGBTQIA+ community gain mainstream support.
“They are visible, and the acceptance of LGBTQ people has risen through the last months dramatically,” Breyer said. “There are studies that prove that people are more accepting [of] LGBTQ people now than before the war. That was really surprising for me.”
It’s unfortunate that it took a war to shift public perception in Ukraine towards acceptance of queer and trans people, but Breyer is hopeful the change of heart will stick.
“This is a good opportunity for the community to use this momentum,” he said, noting there’s a petition to legalize same-sex marriage in Ukraine making its way through parliament.
That legislation, Breyer says, is more important than ever. With queer and trans Ukrainians fighting and becoming casualties of war, it’s imperative that same-sex spouses have the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
“This war is awful, of course, but there’s something constructive coming out of it,” he concluded. “It’s about love, and love will win.”
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Nick Seebruch, editor
