Why did you join the armed forces?
– Firstly, serving on the frontlines is my job. But it’s equally important for me to demonstrate to Ukrainians that the LGBT community is actively contributing to the fight for our country’s freedom and independence. At the same time, it’s a battle for my own human rights. Each day, as an LGBT soldier in the war zone, I must assert my existence, fight, and defend our nation. The haunting events in Bucha serve as a stark reminder of the horrors of Russian military occupation. Later, I discovered a similar threat looming over my hometown Volyn, in the Western Ukraine. I realized that my service in eastern Ukraine is in fact a direct defense of my home in the west against potential Russian occupation.
Is it difficult to be open about your sexual orientation?
– It is much easier for me to be open about being a lesbian, than to hide my identity. Coming out while in the armed forces is like a pre-emptive strike. Openness is not challenging for me here, because I am surrounded by people who accept me for who I am. I believe that my decision to come out was the right one. Staying closed, I felt psychological pressure. Now I feel much freer, and life is not difficult for me. Still, I know many gay individuals who struggle to come out, mostly due to fear of homophobic violence. The ability to come out depends on correct understanding of what kind of people surround you.
What does the partnership law proposal mean for you?
– For LGBT rights in Ukraine, the partnership law represents a little step, or breakthrough, toward a much bigger one. For civilians, this is a positive development – a legal mean to create a family, without having to hide or come up with some schemes. Since the full-scale invasion, I am very happy to see a visible increase in loyalty to the LGBT community. As a legal initiative, I view this more as a kind of halfway committed “social contract”. As soldiers in active service, this law proposal has not impacted us yet. My colleagues here also agree with this. The Ukrainian army is not ready to adapt its rules to accommodate registered partnerships. I still can’t officially declare my partner as my wife and will not receive a leave permission to register our partnership, for example. Even if legislative changes are introduced, it will take time to implement. This is why I view the partnership law quite neutrally. I am waiting for legalization of same-sex marriages.