BOSTON, MA (MARCH 17, 2022) On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine. The war has killed and injured Ukrainian civilians and forced people to leave their destroyed homes behind and flee abroad.

Historically marginalized communities are disproportionately impacted by war and its consequences. In addition to fighting for survival, according to a 2021 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, LGBTQ+ people face discrimination, violence, and denial of basic services. Ukrainian LGBTQ+ people and people of color face brutal discrimination while trying to access humanitarian assistance or cross the border. Safe passage and reception are not guaranteed to queer refugees fleeing to neighboring countries like Poland and Hungary; both countries have been condemned by the European Union for anti-gay laws. Some LGBTQ+ people are forbidden from leaving Ukraine – in particular, transgender women and nonbinary people whose gender identities do not match their government identification are forced to stay and fight.

Similarly in Russia, LGBTQ+ organizations who have long been grappling with systematic oppression by Putin’s government and anti-gay laws, now find themselves in an even more dangerous situation. Britney Griner, who is a Black Lesbian basketball player, was detained in Russia only a few weeks prior to the invasion on charges of holding vaping supplies. With the increasing severity of the regime, queer activists, along with thousands of anti-war protestors, are confronted with harsh persecution, arrest, and torture. The US/EU sanctions against Russia make it almost impossible for regular civilians to escape the country and seek help. 

As a community archive dedicated to preserving and uplifting LGBTQ stories and experiences, it is our duty to use our platform to condemn the war in Ukraine and stand up for those impacted by it, especially LGBTQ+ people. We stand in solidarity with Ukraine and everyone fighting Putin’s atrocious regime. 

Organizations assisting LGBTQ+ Ukrainians, Russians, and other victims of the war in Ukraine include:

• Gender Z is a Ukrainian human rights organization that works with a broad range of issues: sexual orientation and gender identity, overcoming stigma regarding the LGBT community; gender (in)equality, women’s rights and overcoming gender stereotypes; and prevention of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Insight is a Ukrainian organization whose main values are equality, feminism, freedom, inclusiveness, and diversity for all social groups.
• KyivPride is a Ukrainian organization that aims at contributing to full respect for human rights for LGBT+ people in Ukraine, at encouraging an appreciation for these rights by raising LGBT+ visibility and participation in social processes. 
• LGBT Human Rights NASH MIR Center was established in Luhansk in Southeastern Ukraine in 1997. The organization is fighting to achieve equal rights and respect for LGBTI community members in Ukraine.
• Quarteera is an organization of Russian-speaking LGBTQ people in Germany supporting LGBTQ asylum-seekers.
• RUSA LGBT is a network for Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ individuals, their friends, supporters and loved ones. RUSA LGBT has welcomed many LGBTQ+ asylum seekers from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and other countries of the Former Soviet Union.
• The Russian LGBT Network is an interregional, non-governmental human rights organization that promotes equal rights and respect for human dignity, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. They unite and develop regional initiatives, advocacy groups (at both national and international levels), and provide social and legal services.

If you are looking to contribute to efforts to collect and preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage resources, Archive-It is offering free sponsored accounts to organizations interested in archiving Ukrainian web resources.

With our thanks to volunteer Anna Kolesova for her research and insight into creating this statement.

In the cause,

Joan Ilacqua, Executive Director

The History Project Board
Andrew Elder, Chair
Libby Bouvier
Jonathan Chu
Tony Grima
Russell Lopez
Marvin Kabakoff
Neal Kane
Mark Krone
Jessica Taylor