Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the news of a reported post-invasion “kill list” that includes LGBTQ Ukrainians has members of the queer community worldwide wondering how to help those in danger. Protesters have taken to the streets of Moscow to condemn Vladimir Putin’s aggression and express their support for Ukraine, and there are increased calls to put pressure on governments globally to support the invaded nation. Those wishing to lend support to LGBTQ Ukrainians can also provide financial assistance by donating to groups working to protect them and offering support for those who make it out. The following groups are seeking donations to aid in those vital efforts…
OutRight International Action
In times of crisis #LGBTIQ people face higher risks. OutRight has launched a fundraising campaign to channel funds to groups in #Ukraine for shelter & support in nearby countries.
Stand in solidarity with Ukrainians, donate to OutRight’s fundraiser: https://t.co/3HWLPmwjRZ ??????????? pic.twitter.com/kzLLMREg8w— OutRight (@OutRightIntl) February 24, 2022
LGBTQ human rights organization OutRight International Action has launched a fundraising campaign to get funds to groups in Ukraine to provide shelter and support in neighboring countries.
“As the situation continues to unfold in Ukraine, we at OutRight have started to receive the first requests for support from LGBTIQ organizations which are preparing to receive LGBTIQ people in search of shelter, safety and security,” the group’s site reads.
“Already, people are leaving Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the eastern part of the country for, at the moment, safer rural areas and the western parts of the country, while neighboring EU countries work to prepare shelters for an influx of displaced people.
“As we know all too well, in times of crisis, LGBTIQ people who are already marginalized face higher risks and cannot count automatically on access to humanitarian and/or social assistance.”
Donate to the fundraiser here.
Rainbow Railroad
If you’ve been watching events unfold in Ukraine and around the world, including the United States, and are concerned about LGBTQI+ persons: you are not alone.
A message from our Executive Director @KimahliPowell on ongoing global situations:https://t.co/zr6p9ShLh4
— Rainbow Railroad (@RainbowRailroad) February 25, 2022
Nonprofit Rainbow Railroad is a Canadian-headquartered group helping LGBTQ people around the world escape persecution and violence, including assisting queer Chechens escape the territory amid anti-gay purges.
“The situation in Ukraine is alarming – we are concerned about the impact this conflict will have on the LGBTQI+ community in Ukraine and are preparing, in consultation with our partners in the region and around the world, how we can provide help to individuals at risk,” said Rainbow Railroad Executive Director Kimahli Powell in a statement.
Support Rainbow Railroad’s work by donating here.
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU) is a nonprofit group formed as an alliance of human rights organizations, the largest such initiative in Ukraine. In a statement posted to its site, the group, which works to protect human rights with various projects in the region, has called for increased international support for Ukraine.
Find more information on how to support UHHRU on its website.
Freedom House
"Russia is one of the most repressive countries in the Eurasia region when it comes to #LGBT+ rights. Further Russian occupation of Ukraine could be devastating for these communities," FH program officer Karissa Jackson tells Veronica Iglesias for @VOANews https://t.co/n6M8BnZwfZ
— Freedom House (@freedomhouse) February 23, 2022
DC-headquartered research and advocacy nonprofit Freedom House has partnered with Ukrainian-based groups to support the LGBTQ community there, including UHHRU, LGBTQ rights group Fulcrum, and TERGO, a support group Fulcrum formed for parents of LGBTQ children. In a statement released prior to the invasion, the group warned Russian aggression would be a “clear violation of sovereignty, against international law, and unacceptable.”
Fulcrum
📱 Tymur Levchuk, co-founder of LGBTQ+ rights organisation Fulcrum, arrived in Lviv, close to the Polish border, early this morning with his family.
“[LGBTQ+] people felt unsafe before, but now they have a much higher level of feeling unsafe,” he told us. pic.twitter.com/c60MvdUK5X
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) February 25, 2022
Fulcrum is an LGBTQ organization in Ukraine supporting the queer community there to achieve greater freedoms and security. According to the Thompson Reuters Foundation’s Openly, co-founder Tymur Levchuk has had to flee to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine near the Polish border.
Give to his organization through their Patreon.
Nash Mir LGBT Human Rights Center
⭕️ Andrii Kravchuk from the Nash Mir Center, which monitors anti-LGBT+ violence in #Ukraine, is thinking of leaving the capital.
“My boyfriend and I already have the experience of living under shelling, and we know what will happen next,” Kravchuk said. pic.twitter.com/iMr28WElFp
— Openly 🏳️🌈 (@Openly) February 25, 2022
The Nash Mir Center is another Ukrainian LGBTQ advocacy group, formed in the late-’90s. For decades, the organization has pushed for increased LGBTQ rights, provided aid with legal and health services for the community, and educated the public. According to Openly, Andrii Kravchuk of the Nash Mir Center and his boyfriend are considering fleeing Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv.
MarcyMayer
The Ukraine is NOT a liberal democracy, by any means. Its President had his opposition leaders imprisoned and he outlawed opposition parties awhile ago. In addition, the LGBTQ community is mistreated in the Ukraine, just as it’s mistreated in Russia. Is Putin an evil dictator? Of course. Did he invade a defenseless nation? Of course. But let’s not go overboard and let’s have some objectivity here based on facts and not emotion. No American troops should be sent to The Ukraine.
Heywood Jablowme
“the LGBTQ community is mistreated in the Ukraine, just as it’s mistreated in Russia.”
“Just as”? No, we’re treated much, much better in Ukraine than in Russia.
Who is advocating sending American troops to Ukraine? Name anyone who’s doing that.
Is Fux News telling you this or are you just making it up?
Cam
This is @SamB, @BarryM, @openminded, etc… new screename
Dunnedin
I can’ t decide if you are a fascist Republican or a braindead Russian troll. Either way you have no idea of what Ukraine is like except through Fox News or Russia Today.
GentlemanCaller
Actually, you simple-minded, ignorant troll, Ukraine is NOT “the same” as Putin’s Russia with regard to LGBT people. No, it’s not a liberal democracy, and marriage equality is not a thing, but there are actual legal protections in place for LGBT folks in housing and employment, among other things, and pride parades are permitted, not brutally stopped. Your comment is is typical pro-Putin Q-headed nonsense, and I really wish Queerty would eliminate it on this platform.
jt1990
Well the fans about to hit the sh!t over there…great idea wearing the rainbow masks, that will certainly keep the Russians from knowing who’s lgbt! Just like during the scamdemic, the face coverings will save the day!
Cam
Hi SamB, BarryM, etc…
You Republican trolls are so deranged that you will use a post about LGBTQ people in Ukraine to cry about covid masks.
Kangol2
Over 900,000 Americans have died in that “scamdemic” you nutty right-wingers keep trying to deny exists! You became hysterical and wanted to invade two countries after 9/11, lying us into a war with one, but are blasé about 900,000+ DEAD AMERICANS, many of whom are right-wingers just like yourself. “Pro-life” my ass! Don the Con sociopathic death cult is more like it!
Prax07
@JT1990 Scamdemic? GTFO you nutjob.
Jim
Rainbow Railroad has been helping gays for years.
I first became aware of them in regards to Chechnya and of late Afghanistan.
They are a Canadian based charity that now has a site for Americans to make donations easily.
Kangol2
Rainbow Railroad is excellent. They have helped LGBTQ people fleeing violence in Chechnya and Afghanistan, as Jim points out, but also places like Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, etc.
winemaker
It’s sad this is happening but not the USA’s problem! it’d be great knowing who appointed the USA the worlds cops, babysitter and nanny to get involved in everyone’s business yet fail to solve our myriad of problems. Let the UN send member troops to help but not the US military.
Eternal.Cowboy
“who appointed the USA the worlds cops, babysitter and nanny to get involved in everyone’s business yet fail to solve our myriad of problems”
The U.S. appointed itself the world police. You know, it’s why we run around invading countries that have never attacked us.
“Let the UN send member troops to help but not the US military.”
The U.S. military isn’t going nor is anyone else. There is no military solution and sending troops wold only escalate the issue.
Cam
LOL!!!
SamB brought out THIS old screename? I LOVE it! Looks like all your new ones already got exposed and you had to brush off this dusty oldie.
RyanMBecker
Study your history. When Ukraine broke away from the Soviet Union, it had some of the USSR’s nuclear weapons, making it a nuclear power. But it gave them up under the urging of the West, residually the US. In return, the West promised it protection, suggesting it could become part of the the EU, and even NATO. Well, Ukraine has yet to be admitted to either group, and Russia has annexed Crimea, with the entire nation now in danger of falling. It’s likely that Russia would not be so bold if Ukraine still had nuclear weapons. In other words, the US and the West have a moral obligation to help Ukraine.
white-queer-african
My comment still waiting for moderation by Queerty! Maybe I should start spewing the same GOP propaganda as SamB et al for my comment to be released immediately.