On June 25, Warsaw Pride and KyivPride will meet in Warsaw, Poland, to march for peace and freedom in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and it caused Europe’s most rapidly increasing refugee crisis since World War 2, with more than 7.5 million Ukrainians fleeing to save their lives. The violence continues today.
LGBT people will suffer greatly if Putin takes control of Ukraine. Like the Taliban did when returned to power in Afghanistan, the Russian government has a kill list that targets LGBT people.
Seeking asylum in available countries with low tolerance towards homosexuality is an issue too, which is why LGBT people from surrounding countries, including Poland, offered to help with the process. Some LGBT Ukrainians even built their own vigilante army, to protect their freedom by taking on Russian soldiers.
Poland and Ukraine will once again come together to resist injustice, but it will not be a party. “On June 25 we are not celebrating,” Lenny Emson, the director of KyivPride, is quoted as saying in a tweet. “We want to appeal to the whole world: help Ukraine win! Help Ukrainian people live freely on their land!”
“Due to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine the 10th anniversary of the Equality March in Kyiv can’t take place in the usual format in the Ukrainian capital,” KyivPride tweeted. “LGBT+ Ukrainians will unite with the Warsaw community this year.
“Together we stand up for freedom and human rights, and against the war. We will stand for peace, for the victory of Ukraine, and for the freedom of the Ukrainian land and people.
“Russia is taking away our homes, our families, our friends, and our loved ones, but it will never take away our freedom, our visibility, and our right to vote. On June 25 we are not celebrating. We want to appeal to the whole world: help Ukraine win! Help Ukrainian people live freely on their land!”
“The organizers expect about 80,000 participants,” Julia Maciocha, the President of Warsaw Pride added. “We call on the community, LGBT+ organizations, and people around the world to join the march in Warsaw and stand with us against aggression, for freedom and peace.
“‘For us, in Warsaw Pride, community means standing up for others. Community means making space for voices that are not heard enough. Community means marching side by side for safety and freedom of those who had it taken away. We are proud to join KyivPride in their march for the victory of Ukraine!’”
