I devoted the past four years to The Queer Face of War because I believe stories are a critical tool to spur people into action. And international solidarity is essential at this moment where queer people and democracy are under attack worldwide.
As The Queer Face of War is officially released in the US and worldwide, I’m partnering with 10 Ukrainian organizations and the international group All Out on a campaign supporting partnership rights and hate crime protections in Ukraine. All Out is featuring several stories from The Queer Face of War to explain the urgency of this legislation and ask individuals around the world to sign on in support.
Check out the campaign site, and scroll further to read the bulletin All Out sent to more than 200,000 people worldwide.
I’m thrilled that these stories can be part of this important effort.
Over the past several years, as a journalist reporting from Ukraine, I have documented the lives of queer Ukrainians living through Russia's full-scale invasion of their country.
I met soldiers serving on the front lines, volunteers helping the displaced, and people persecuted by Russian forces because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their stories form the basis of my project and book, The Queer Face of War.
As February 24 approaches, the war will enter its fifth year. And while queer Ukrainians continue to fight, care for each other, and hold their communities together, many are still denied basic legal protections that other couples take for granted.
These stories matter because they show what legal inequality looks like in real life. And taking action matters because the laws that could change this are still stalled.
That is why I am working with All Out and Ukrainian LGBTQ+ organizations to share these stories and mobilize global support.
Russia's war on Ukraine has also been an explicit attack on LGBTQ+ people. On the night Putin launched the full-scale invasion, he gave a speech claiming the war was a response to Western attempts to "utterly destroy" Russia's "traditional values." Russian state media has pumped out anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda throughout the fighting, and Russian soldiers have targeted queer Ukrainians for sexual violence and other abuse.
Queer Ukrainians have joined the fight to save their country's democracy. But they do not have equal rights. Same-sex partners can be shut out of hospital rooms. They may not be allowed to claim a loved one's body if someone is killed in combat. Those who are persecuted for their sexual orientation or gender identity cannot seek full justice because hate crimes are not clearly recognized in Ukrainian law.
When you read the stories, you will see how these lived realities are directly connected to the changes Ukrainian advocates are demanding now: legal recognition for same-sex relationships, so partners have the same rights and protections as others, and stronger hate crime laws, so violence motivated by hatred is properly investigated and punished.
These are not abstract policy debates. They determine whether people can protect each other, grieve with dignity, and live openly while defending their country.
As global attention returns to Ukraine around the February 24 anniversary, your support helps ensure queer Ukrainians are seen, heard, and protected.
Add your name and stand for equality in Ukraine.
Thanks for going All Out,
J. Lester Feder
