πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ More than one million people have fled their homes since Russia invaded Ukraine, says the UN.

πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ But some trans women and non-binary people with male-identifying IDs are unable to escape - or too scared to try.

We spoke to people desperate to leave.🧡
openlynews.com/i/?id=f5cb8051…
πŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈ Robert is a 31-year trans man from Iraq who has been living in Ukraine for 13 years.

πŸ›€ He left the eastern city of Kharkiv when the invasion began and travelled for three days by train through Slovakia and on to the Czech Republic.
πŸ‡¨πŸ‡Ώ Robert now has a place to stay in Prague thanks to the work of Terry Rivers, founder of Queer Spaces Network.

🟠 "I was so scared, I didn’t know what to do. But after a few hours, they let me in," he told us.
⭕️ Valeria Kolosova, a trans woman from Kyiv, is currently in the western city of Lviv.

πŸ”΄ She has a passport with a male gender marker and fears that Ukrainian authorities will force her to take up arms.

"I do not see my future in Lviv or in ruined Kyiv. I have little hope."
πŸ’Š The @WHO has now warned of an escalating health crisis in Ukraine as medical supplies, including HIV medicines, have become scarce or even unavailable.

πŸ’‰ The trans community also has the additional concerns about access to hormones.
openlynews.com/i/?id=9a8562fc…
🩺 Judis, a 24-year-old trans woman hiding in a village with her girlfriend says she is terrified about what the Russian advance could mean for her future.

πŸ”΅ "I don't know how much longer I can stay where I am now. I have nowhere to go," she said.
πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Many #LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine are terrified at the prospect of Russian occupation.

πŸ—Ί Some are fleeing the capital and crossing into neighbouring Poland, Hungary and Romania.
twitter.com/i/events/14990…
πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί LGBTQ+ groups across Europe are coming together to help queer people leave, find shelter and apply for much-needed asylum.

🟒 Terry Rivers said they helping refugees arriving at the Slovak border and that other LGBTQ+ groups are doing the same in Poland, Hungary and Romania.

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More from @Openly

Feb 16
🌈 The @DCComics universe just keeps getting queerer!

πŸ¦Έβ€β™€οΈ Iconic superhero Vixen has come out as a lesbian in an issue of β€œHarley Quinn: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour”.

πŸ‘©β€β€οΈβ€πŸ‘© She also revealed that she is in a relationship with another woman. Image
πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Vixen first came out as part of the #LGBTQ+ community back in the fourth issue of the comic book series created by Tee Franklin, Matt Sarin and Marissa Louise.

πŸ—£ But she's not the first DC character to come out recently.
🌈 Last year, Batman’s sidekick Tim Drake, aka Robin, came out as bisexual.

πŸ¦Έβ€β™‚οΈ Just a few months later, DC Comics revealed that Jon Kent, the Superman of Earth and son of Clark Kent, is bisexual.
twitter.com/i/events/14478…
Read 4 tweets
Feb 16
πŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈ Poet, performance artist, politician and ground-breaker: hello Andrea Jenkins!

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Earlier this year, she became the first Black trans woman to lead a U.S city council.

Here's how she is on a mission to shake up politics. πŸ‘‡πŸ§΅
openlynews.com/i/?id=fff06b37…
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Jenkins was born in Chicago in 1961 and grew up in what she has described as a "low-income, working-class community".

✍️ She began writing poetry in her mid-teens.

πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆIn her 20s, she came out as bi, got married, became a parent, got divorced at 30 and later came out as trans.
πŸ€” "How do I impact policy?" was a question Jenkins always has on her mind.

πŸ™In 2001, @RLilligren, a gay Native American who was running for the Minneapolis City Council, asked her to be a part of his campaign.

πŸ‘ His victory led to Jenkins' role as a policy aide for 13 years.
Read 8 tweets
Feb 16
πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ New Zealand has officially banned conversion therapy.

❌ The parliament near-unanimously passed the legislation, which was introduced by the government last year.

πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ β€œThis is a great day for New Zealand’s rainbow communities,” said Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi.
⭕️ Under the terms of the legislation, it will be an offence to attempt to convert LGBTQ+ minors or vulnerable adults.

βš–οΈ These offences could lead to a three-year jail sentence.
⭕️ It will also be illegal to perform conversion therapy on anyone - adult or under 18 - where the practices have caused "serious harm".

βš–οΈ Offenders could face up to five years in prison.
Read 4 tweets
Feb 15
πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ New Zealand has officially banned conversion therapy.

❌ The parliament near-unanimously passed the legislation, which was introduced by the government last year.

πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ β€œThis is a great day for New Zealand’s rainbow communities,” said Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi. Image
⭕️ Under the terms of the legislation, it will be an offence to attempt to convert LGBTQ+ minors or vulnerable adults.

βš–οΈ These offences could lead to a three-year jail sentence.
⭕️ It will also be illegal to perform conversion therapy on anyone - adult or under 18 - where the practices have caused "serious harm".

βš–οΈ Offenders could face up to five years in prison.
Read 4 tweets
Feb 9
πŸ“– Classrooms have become the latest battleground for #LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Since the beginning of 2022, nearly a dozen bills have been proposed banning queer books and classroom materials.

🧡 Here's what you need to know. πŸ‘‡
openlynews.com/i/?id=9b222e47…
πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Educating children about LGBTQ-related issues has often caused controversy across the U.S.

πŸ“– In 2019, 8 of the top 10 most challenged or banned library, school or university books contained queer content, according to @OIF. Image
πŸ§’ Lawmakers say parents should have a bigger say in their children's education – potentially overriding administrators.

πŸ“š They also say that religious freedom means families and students should be able to challenge some material. Image
Read 12 tweets
Feb 8
πŸ“’ The #OscarNoms are out!

✨ Here are all the #LGBTQ+ figures and films that have received a nod from @TheAcademy. πŸ‘‡
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ American queer icon Kristen Stewart is nominated for Best Actress for her role as Princess Diana in Spencer.

πŸ† Stewart has been recognised for at least 10 other awards for her performance in the film directed by Pablo LarraΓ­n. Image
πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Queer actress and #LGBTQ+ advocate @ArianaDeBose is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

🎬 She plays Anita in Steven Spielberg's remake of the 1961 classic @WestSideMovie. Image
Read 6 tweets

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