(Photo Credits: Anntinomy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
In the early hours of Thursday morning—February 24, 2022—Russia attacked Ukraine on all fronts: land, water, and air. If you have no idea why this happened or what is happening, the conflict has been brewing between the two countries for several years now and the tension has been escalating since 2021. Read more about it here.
And while it’s only been over a day since the crisis came to a head, concerns about what could happen to the LGBTQ community in Ukraine has already been talked about way before this. According to the US intelligence, Russia has a “kill list,” a file of people they plan to kill, kidnap, and sent to camps. Not surprisingly, the LGBTQ Ukrainians as well as the gay rights advocates in the country made it to that list along with the journalists, activists, and ethnic and religious minorities.
The intel was reportedly leaked through a letter on 21 February. Russia was, of course, quick to deny having such a list, their spokesman Dmitry Peskov, said: “This is an absolute falsehood. This is a lie. I know that this is totally invented.” He added, “There’s no such list. This is fake.” Read more about it here and here.
Meanwhile, the LGBTQ people in Ukraine fears about what this could mean for them. “That would mean a direct threat to me and especially, well, to me and to the person I love,” said Iulia in an interview with CBS News. Iulia is 18 years old, and is currently studying law in Kharkiv, because she “wants to use her degree to fight for LGBTQ rights in Ukraine.”
“In Russia, LGBTQ people are persecuted,” Iulia said. “If we imagine that Russia occupies all of the Ukraine or just a big part of the country, they won’t allow us to exist peacefully and to fight for our rights as we are able to do that in Ukraine right now.”
Further, she related that although “Ukraine still has a long way to go, it was making real progress in terms of acceptance of LGBTQ people,” that while their country doesn’t allow same-sex marriage yet, she thinks it’s only a matter of time and is “only a few years away.”
“We still have a lot of things to do about our rights and our freedoms, but in Ukraine, you can fully express yourself.” Iulia added, “It’s much more safer (sic) than in Russia, believe me. It’s much easier.” Read the interview in full here.
Meanwhile, the Canada-based organization Rainbow Railroad released a statement saying:
Rainbow Railroad joins the international community in condemning the unjust attack on Ukraine perpetrated by Russia.
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.</blockquote><br><br>
You can read Rainbow Railroad’s statement in full here.
It is all about “Petro” as Russia is a “Petrostate.” It is all about an ex-KGB who wants to experience his last days of glory and not face the realities that “Mother Russia” died a long time ago. It is all about the show yet the Russian Army has been stymied by The Ukrainians and Putin’s boast of a swift and decisive “Grand Entrance” into The Ukraine has already been thwarted. However, what is to be noted is China watching what the Russians are doing as well as what The US and Europe will do.. will be the impetus for… Read more »
China is salivating over this… look what they have done in Hong Kong… no question that Taiwan is definitely in their cross-hairs. But these authoritarian leaders (who care nothing about human rights, period) know they can get away with whatever horror they perpetrate because no sane western leader will risk the spectre of nuclear annihilation… the ‘people’s revolution’ in both Russia and China has come to a very sorry pass, far surpassing the cruelty of the dynastic orders they over-threw. The irony is both chilling and deeply tragic.
Great idea, volunteer to support the Ukrainian nationalists. I’m sure the Azov Brigade can use volunteers. Rather than be a Pink Metternich, get your hands dirty and ear drums perforated. No? Well, then worry about something other than affairs beyond control. Sure that their is a mask mandate to be enforced somewhere
Now, it has been reported….that
Belarus has promised to send troops to The Ukraine to supplement Putin’s troops? I suggest, we all take note and pray that such an escalation is not a “Harbinger” of WW!!!?
The annexation of “The Ukraine” continues unabatedly!
All the useless rhetoric about punishing the Russians from both The USA and Europe do not seem to have made any sizable impact on Putin’s desire to restore The U.S.S.R?
And so, the possible “Harbinger” to WWIII continues to inch forward, soldier-after-soldier?
I will modify my original assertions… .
The imposed sanctions against Russia are many and ever increasing…they are having a sizable and positive impact on the stupidity of Putin who know knows two things: when you open up Pandora’s Box, the shit empties out until Hope finally emerges and two, no nations is an island living in a glass buble!
Hardly think that the Ukraine situation is due to LBGT+ rights. If people are so concerned, then they should join the Ukrainians at the barricades. Don’t think that the Russians care a whit about petitions and protests in Europe. Pride parades and the like gave the East an idea that Westerners are decadent and were not in the mood to defend themselves. Being a corporate tool is sooo much more comfortable then getting shelled though, so post comments and watch CNN, right?
I agree with you as we both know…neither The United States nor Europe…are the world and yet the aforementioned…think that what they declare as rightful is seen, heard and defined by their own warped perceptions.
The Russians and particularly, The Chinese, have repeatedly told both The US & Europe, neither give a Rat’s Ass about Human Rights…regardless of who defines but neither practice them.
It’s all about Ideologies and ideologies are skewed by those who espouse them for their own glorifications and usage.
The US is the country with horrible human rights, especially if you are black or Native American. A country founded on genocide and slavery and with prison industrial complex that not only provides profits for the private prisons but provides slave-wage labor for state governments and corporations. China has 3-4X the population of the US but has the same amount of people jailed. Last year China police made about 1 million arrests compared with the US, which made 10 million arrests. Why not let Chinese worry about China, and we can maybe worry about our own country/countries.
I agree with you!
We tend – as a Nation – to point our fingers to other nations who do what we condemn – yet, we do the very same things.
It that calling the kettle black? If we stuck our noses and stopped pointing our fingers to others; we would have enough time to end what we condemn?
That is an outright LIE. Are you capable of independent thought or deductive reasoning?
CNN=Communist News Network
corporate news network. still fake news.
…In three words: NEW WORLD ORDER. One tyrant; wanna be dictator (orange-haired idiot) seems to enact other ones to attempt the abolish democracy. “Come back to da way tings use to be, what’s old is what’s new.”
I’m not even sure what to say. It saddens me so much, this senseless act of unwarranted and unless barbarism.
I don’t see any reason for Putin’s actions.
I pray and keep all Ukrainians in my heart.
Did you pray for the Libyans, Syrians, Iraqies, Hondorans, Iranians, Venezuelans, the millions on the brink of starvation in Yemen, and the millions on the brink of starvation in Aphganastan–due to the US bombing the shit out of their country or due to economic war (“sanctions”)? What is happening in Ukraine is horrible, but it’s a nowhere near as barbaric as what the US has done in Syria, Iraq, or Libya.
This is what you get when so many Americans fall in line and vote for a weak leader. Someone who hasn’t done anything for America in his 50 years in office. But hey atleast we don’t have anymore mean tweets and people’s feelings aren’t getting hurt, just people being killed all over the place.
lol trump would have applaud him.
He’s that idiot.
I checked on his family twitters..melanya, and his stupid kids….nooooo one said anything. Just shows how idiots and evil they are
4 years of no war, secure borders, low gas prices, fully stocked supermarkets, low crime, low inflation. Even Justin can’t deliver that. He just takes away the rights of peaceful Canadian citizens fighting for their freedom.I bet you’ll censor this in true Trudeau mode.
secure borders? fully restock supermarkets? low crime? You think that a president does that?
the government doesn’t own supermarkets…lol
ur funny. You sound like some pro Putin Russians right now.
I’m a pro Putin Russian now? My, my how quickly we launch a personal attack. I thought that wasn’t allowed on here.Please educate yourself. We all know now from the Durham report that the Russia hoax was bought and paid for by Hillary. And need I mention the Biden family’s business connections with Russia and Ukraine? And yes, the supply chain problems are due to Biden’s Covid policies/restrictions which suddenly we are all supposed to forget about.
More lies, you boys over in Russia are really busy on the side, hilarious
They are Pro Putin and Russians, can’t you see how they were dominating the negative comments and lies here They have taken over the space, that’s pretty obvious this week. They are by for the minority here.How many times have you on here been “ smiled” by Russian bots, I get 10 a day. Hope you’re having fun over there in Russia boys
You’ve got it all backwards he’s the guy that protects us, he arrested the ones who are trying to hold a city hostage as well as block international borders, thats as illegal as it gets. Get your facts straight, by the way how are all of you over in Moscow doing these days?
Yeah, the ‘pathological-orange-fuck’ he was just a wonderful Pres., (eyeroll)
The invasion has brought a new level of equality for the LGTBQ+ Community. Every individual who does not support Russia or the invasion is at risk of detention or death. Non-supporting Straights/Heterosexuals and LGTBQ+ individuals are equal in the eyes of the Russian State.
It’s just a trick, I think. Putin, in terms of the LGTBQ+ will utilize their support until he no longer needs it, I don’t think he’s all that excepting, he’s just too toxically masculine.
I’m sorry. This is bullshit propoganda. LGBTQ+ persons were not safe in Ukraine before the Russian Invasion. Ultrarightwing and fascist street gangs attack queers, women, Jews with impunity. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are places you want to be if you are not straight.
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