LGBTQIA+

SUPPORT UKRAINIAN LGBTQIA+
COMMUNITY

The situation in Ukraine following the Russian invasion is highly concerning for all citizens – but we know members of the LGBTQIA+ community will feel at particular risk.

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LGBTIQIA+ people are often left behind in humanitarian relief efforts. At best, this may be due to a lack of cultural competency. At worst, LGBTIQIA+ people may be intentionally excluded from aid because of systemic discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Our LGBTIQ communities cannot always count on mainstream systems for help. Yet, in crisis, LGBTIQIA+ people have a fundamental right to survival and require food, water, transportation, safe shelter, social support, competent medical care, hormone replacement therapy, and HIV medication.

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Putin's regime whos ordered the invasion, is highly anti-LGBTQIA+. Over the last twenty years, Putin has repeatedly attacked the LGBTQ+ community. A law passed in 2013 made it illegal to promote gay rights, resulting in activists being jailed and LGBTQIA+ support groups being shut down. Last year, the Council of Europe described several years of extensive and often virulent attacks on the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Russia and found that anti-LGBTQIA+ hate speech by politicians and in the media had risen significantly.
Amid escalating violence, LGBTQIA+ people in Ukraine are now facing the additional fear of persecution just for being themselves. Many have to flee their homeland in search of safety and freedom.
At Ukrfund, we're working with partner LGBTQIA+ organizations in Ukraine. We're supporting LGBTQIA+ Ukrainian refugees and lobbying the U.S. Government to protect LGBTQIA+ human rights defenders in Ukraine.