Perspectives from the queer community
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On Sunday, August 24, Ukraine will celebrate its 34th Independence Day – yet the independence it gained from the Soviet Union in 1991 has remained acutely threatened since the outbreak of the Russian war of aggression. Today, over 30 years later, the country’s territorial integrity and state sovereignty are being severely challenged by the ongoing war.
The following presents reports and firsthand perspectives from the queer community in Ukraine: on the significance of the day, on their long-term and everyday engagement with independence and self-determination, and on their view of the current situation.
The struggle for independence and self-determination is multi-layered
For queer people in Ukraine, the pursuit of independence – and the threat it faces – is not only a geopolitical concern but, as Oleksandra Semenova, deputy head of the Ukrainian LGBTQI+ aid organization You Are Not Alone, explains, “a deeply personal and political experience.”
The long-term engagement of queer people with exclusion, visibility, and rights is now reflected in a larger political context. At the same time, their vulnerability and exposure are intensified as social marginalization and violence dramatically increase.
The statements draw a picture of a precarious situation, yet also of empowering self-confidence, courage, agency, and above all hope for an ideologically free, structurally inclusive and equal future for Ukraine.
Oleksandra Semenova, You Are Not Alone:
For LGBTQI+ people in Ukraine, Independence Day is not just a national holiday. It’s a deeply personal and political experience. It’s a day when we are reminded that our struggle for independence has many layers. We are not only resisting an external enemy — we are also fighting for the right to be ourselves within our own society: to be visible, to be safe, to live without fear.
Even in peacetime, this struggle has never been easy. But during full-scale war, it has become even more difficult — and even more urgent. In times of survival, minority voices are often pushed aside. But we believe that human rights cannot be postponed “until after the war.” They must be protected — especially in times of crisis.
LGBTQI+ people are part of Ukraine’s resistance — on the front lines, in volunteer networks, in humanitarian aid. We are part of this society. And we want to be part of Ukraine’s victory — a victory that includes everyone. That’s why Independence Day, for us, is also a day of hope: hope that in the new Ukraine we are all building together, there will be space for all of us.
Rostyslav Milevskjy, Gender Zed:
Exactly three and a half years ago, the enemy officially declared war on us — even though attempts to seize our country had started back in 2014. The Russians thought we didn’t stand a chance, but we endured. Because we are a free people, moving toward a future where there is no place for inequality. Instead, there will be civil partnerships, and hate crimes will be properly investigated.
To help bring that future closer, at Gender Zed we call on everyone — every day — to respect themselves, to support others in difficult times, and to stand against hate in society. And if we do that, we will succeed. Because in our world, it is still not brute force but truth that wins.
LGBT+ people are volunteering, serving on the front lines, and dreaming of peace on our land. They are diverse, but each and every one of them is bringing victory closer in their own way. On this day, we continue to think about victory — and to do what we can to bring it nearer.
Vladyslav Fomin, UAV Operator, 153 Snipers Centre
Speaking of what Ukraine’s Independence Day means to me personally… This day serves as a ‚declaration‘ to the entire world: to democracies, autocracies, and totalitarian states alike – we exist, we fight, we live and die for the right to be Ukrainian.
It’s our flagpole, raised defiantly before the jaws of our post-colonial legacy, the collective heartfelt longing of the Ukrainian nation that has taken shape and meaning. And watching how desperately the enemy is trying to snatch it away from us, I understand that it holds value. And I want other Ukrainians to understand this, too.
Before I joined the Ukrainian Defence Forces, I didn’t grasp this as I do now. That my actions could change something. That I have the right to call this land ‚mine‘. That I am one of many who lay the foundations of our nation, brick by brick, despite the forces that would rather I didn’t know this. A person is nothing without their land. And I am nothing without my country.
Oleg Alyokhin, Liga:
Before the start of the Great War with Russia, Independence Day of Ukraine was just a holiday for me – when, together with the whole country, you look back on the past year and dream about the future.
Today, this is the day for deep thinking, feeling the pain and determination for me. A day when I can feel myself a part of the great people who fight for the right to be themselves. Because I am Ukrainian. And to me, being Ukrainian means to live with dignity, fight for the truth, and keep those you love safe.
Freedom and love are my religion. It is what keeps me and others within the country. So, love Ukraine – every day, same as during holidays and during the darkest of times, and keep it in your heart.
Mariia Maruzhenko, Fulcrum UA:
For me, August 24 is more than just a national holiday. It is a day when I ask myself: what kind of Ukraine are we and what kind of Ukraine do we want to become?
Today, Ukraine’s independence is not just about protecting its borders from aggressors. It is about the ability to build a society that values human dignity and the right to be visible. And that is why for us, for LGBTQ+ Ukrainians, this issue has always been personal.
During the war, hundreds of our brothers and sisters are defending our country, but legally they remain invisible to the state. They live in relationships for years, building a life together, but in the event of injury or death, their partners have no rights — no access to a doctor, no support from the state, not even the right to say goodbye.
NGO Fulcrum UA, together with members of parliament, has developed a draft law on registered partnerships that allows rights to be delegated to the closest person. This is not about “rights” for LGBTQ+ people — it is about equal legal protection for everyone: for LGBTQ+ military who want to protect their partners, for people who run a business together, for those who want to protect their property or make decisions in difficult situations.
Ukraine has obligations to itself and to the world. The European Court of Human Rights ruling in the case of “Maimulahin and Markiv v. Ukraine” clearly states that Ukraine must ensure the legal status of same-sex couples. Hungary, despite all the difficulties, has recently taken a step forward — the Constitutional Court has recognized same-sex marriages concluded abroad as registered partnerships. This confirms that even in conservative countries, change is possible.
Our draft law on registered partnerships is about both a European future and the value of every citizen here and now. It does not change the definition of marriage or impose moral judgments; it creates a tool for delegating rights and responsibilities.
A strong country is one that is capable of protecting its own. Even and especially during wartime. We are building a Ukraine that differs from Russia not only in its flag but also in its values. Where human rights do not cease during wartime. Where equality is not a slogan for international reports, but a reality for every person.
That is why on this Independence Day, we are not just celebrating the past. We are fighting for a future where each and every one of us is visible, equal, and protected.
Oleh Maksymiak, Fulcrum UA:
What does Independence Day mean to me — especially as a queer person in Ukraine?
For an LGBTQ+ Ukrainian, Independence Day marks a beginning. It is the start of a slow but profound rebirth and transformation of our society. It was independence that made it possible to decriminalize homosexuality in Ukraine — a fundamental turning point. It allowed us to finally begin building a society in which queer people are seen, heard, and respected.After independence, Ukraine began opening up to the world. We learned about LGBTQ+ communities abroad, where cultures of equality were already taking shape. The first Ukrainian human rights organizations emerged. The LGBTQ+ movement was born. And over time, we came to a point where LGBTQ+ rights are no longer a taboo, but increasingly recognized as part of Ukraine’s democratic values.
But Independence Day is more than a personal milestone — it is a national rupture with centuries of Russian imperialism and Soviet totalitarianism, systems that tried to erase us both as a nation and as queer people. Independence is our rejection of dictatorship, censorship, and state-sponsored homophobia. It is our path toward democracy, human rights, and an open, inclusive society.
And yet, independence is not a given.
Today, Ukraine continues to fight for its independence — literally, on the battlefield — against a Russian regime that is once again trying to destroy our nation, our freedom, and our identities. Russia today is an imperialist, homophobic dictatorship. And standing against it are thousands of Ukrainian defenders — including LGBTQ+ soldiers — risking their lives for a future where dignity, equality, and freedom prevail.
For us, Independence Day is not just about the past. It is a living, ongoing struggle. And it is also a vision: of the country we are becoming — one that leaves behind the shadows of empire and stands firmly on the side of democracy, human rights, and dignity for all.
Anna Sharyhina and Team, WA Sphere
For NGO “WA Sphere”, Independence Day is not only a celebration of statehood, but also an affirmation of the right to visibility, dignity and a safe life for LGBTQ+ people. The war with Russia continues, independence from it takes on special significance: not only territorial, but also mental and ideological.
We are fighting for freedom: from discrimination, patriarchy and violence. We are fighting for the right to create an inclusive Ukraine where every person has a voice. In this struggle, women, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people and non-binary people are not passive spectators, but volunteers, defenders and organisers.
We remain in Kharkiv, a city that feels the proximity of the front line every day. Despite the shelling and destruction, we have rebuilt our resource centre, PrideHub. Here we hold meetings and provide psychological and humanitarian support. We have chosen to stay here and bring about change that will lead to justice and freedom.
At the international level, we strive for the Ukrainian queer community to be seen not as victims of war, but as active subjects. We want to be visible, heard, and involved in the global dialogue. Therefore, we call on our partners for continued solidarity and partnership with global queer and feminist movements.
So, on this Independence Day, we celebrate not only the past, but also our shared future: an inclusive, just Ukraine that we are building together.