LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine

We are currently interested in Ukraine mainly because of the war that is currently going on there. But what about LGBTQ+ rights?

You may have heard the news that a transgender woman has become the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military. While that sounds like great news, the truth is that the Ukrainian state is not exactly supportive of LGBTQ+ rights.

People of the same official gender cannot marry or register together. Some LGBT+ people solve this by marrying someone from their friendship , and this person will make sure that their last wishes are fulfilled in the event of their death, because they cannot rely on their original family.

Another problem LGBT+ people in Ukraine face is prejudice against them. The TV show Kvartal 95, which also featured current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, faced protests outside the 1+1 studio for a sketch in which the characters teased Pinocchio for transitioning.

But a bunch of queer people don't give up the fight! An example is the people the British magazine gal-dem spoke to in 2022, shortly after the outbreak of the war. Such a Kej had a plan to make and throw Molotov cocktails at the Russian army, while Karla joined the resistance against cyberattacks.

The stakes are high: If Russia were to take over Ukraine, it would be a tough time for LGBTQ+ people there.