Ukrainian LGBTQ+ Soldiers Honored at Washington, DC Event

As one year since the start of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine approaches, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova broke ground this January by becoming the first ambassador of her country to speak at an LGBTQ event in America.

The Washington, D.C.-hosted photo exhibit, titled LGBTIQ+ In Defense of Ukraine, honored LGBTQ Ukrainians who “started a new life as soldiers or volunteers, joining the army or starting a humanitarian project to help their communities, thus becoming defenders of their country and people,” according to QUA-Ukraine, one of the organizations that co-hosted the event. “All of them chose to stay and fight against the Russian occupation and are risking their lives for a democratic and independent Ukraine.”

QUA-Ukraine went on to state that “LGBTIQ Ukrainians have always been a part of Ukraine’s progress, and this fight for the survival of the nation is no different. We wish to highlight the resilience of LGBTIQ Ukrainian military and humanitarian volunteers. Through portraits and interviews with these heroes, as well as opening remarks from LGBTQ Ukrainians and allies here in the United States during the opening event, we will bring this intersection of Ukrainian lived experience to the United States in a deeply personal way, building empathy and bridges between American and Ukrainian communities.”

Exemplifying the importance of equality during times of conflict, soldiers such as Oleksandr Zhygan, who enlisted protect his homeland last February, previously shared to VOA News that recent events have shone light upon the value of civil rights, including legalization of same-gender marriages. He and his partner, who are both serving in the war, recognized early on that legal protections were not available should the unthinkable happen to one of them.

According to the BBC, an estimated 13,000 total Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the conflict as of December.

Speaking at the event, Markarova’s remarks concurrently echoed the strive for liberation of her homeland and for LGBTQ equality. “We are fighting for our right to live how we want to live. We are fighting for our democracy. We’re fighting for the right to choose who we want to choose and whether it has to do with the government or whether it has to do with who we love and how we believe and this is very important.”

Contrasting Russia’s harsh anti-LGBTQ policies, Ukrainian citizens and leadership have furthered the advancement of queer rights during recent years. Although progress remains to be achieved, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky made headlines in 2022 when he indicated support for same-gender civil partnerships, an interim measure that may be feasible during war-time and could offer protections to soldiers like Zhygan. Legalization of same-gender marriages would require a constitutional amendment that could be pursued after the conflict.

Speaking via video message at this year’s Golden Globes, Zelensky shared an inclusive message, stating: “I can definitely tell you who were the best in the previous year: It was you, the free people of the free world. Those who united around the support of the free Ukrainian people in our common struggle for freedom, democracy, for the right to live, to love, to give birth, no matter who are you are, no matter where you are from, no matter who you are with.”

Images courtesy of social media