The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has brought about unexpected changes in the attitudes of Ukrainians towards the LGBTQ+ community. According to Jul Sirous and Olha Onipko, shelter managers at KyivPride, the war has united the country and even changed the way people view the LGBTQ+ community. Despite limited LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine, the conflict has improved how people view them. Onipko says that people are beginning to realize that sexual orientation or gender identity are not important when their lives are saved by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
While war is a heavy price to pay for improved understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, KyivPride staffers are happy to see the change. Edward Reese, another staff member, says that the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine wants Russia out of the country as soon as possible. Although the war has brought about significant changes in how Ukrainians view the LGBTQ+ community, there is still work to be done. According to a 2019 survey, only 14% of Ukrainians believe that LGBTQ+ people should be accepted.
In a positive move, Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, recently attended an LGBTQ+ exhibition in Washington, marking the first time that such a high-profile politician from Ukraine has attended an LGBTQ+ event. During the event, Markarova emphasized that the LGBTQ+ community is inseparable from Ukraine, and that the faster any discrimination can be stopped, the faster victory will be achieved, not only in the battlefield in Ukraine but also globally.
Despite the hardships that Ukrainians have faced due to the ongoing war with Russia, the increased acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community is a welcome change. Organizations like KyivPride continue to provide support and a safe space for the community, but more needs to be done to ensure that all LGBTQ+ individuals in Ukraine are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.