War, Identity, and Activism: LGBTQ Realities in Ukraine’s Geopolitical Struggle

Since the 2010s, Ukraine has seen significant progress in LGBTQ rights and visibility, but this has occurred alongside rising (geo) political tensions, against the background of the annexation of Crimea and military interventions by Russia in Donbas. The situation then changed drastically in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. 

This talk explores the intersection of LGBTQ identity, activism, and politics in Ukraine, tracing developments from the Euromaidan protests through the ongoing full-scale war. Focusing on how the war has affected the LGBTQ community, the presentation highlights both their heightened vulnerability and their crucial role in defending democratic values and human rights.

By examining key historical moments, such as the emergence of Kyiv Pride Equality marches and the evolving legal framework for LGBTQ people, this talk places Ukraine’s struggle for LGBTQ equality in a broader geopolitical context. It also discusses the role of Russian aggression in exacerbating homophobia and curtailing LGBTQ rights in regions under occupation, while analyzing how LGBTQ Ukrainians have mobilized, both within the country and globally, to resist this repression.

Through this lens, the talk offers insight into how LGBTQ activism and identity in Ukraine are shaped by both internal political forces and external pressures from Russia, framing this as part of the broader struggle for sovereignty and freedom in the region. This geopolitical perspective provides a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between war, identity, and activism in contemporary Ukraine.