Thread by @Openly

🕺 Dmytro was getting ready for a rave.

✈️ Borys was just back from holiday.

🇺🇦 Then Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine and their lives changed forever.

🪖 We spoke to LGBTQ+ Ukrainians who became soldiers to fight for their country – and their rights.🧵
bit.ly/3KZRjAB

👨‍⚕️ Borys is a gay 26-old-year old former paramedic.

🏳️‍🌈 He went straight from enjoying beers in Germany to taking up arms in Kyiv – one of many queer soldiers who have joined the resistance.

👇 "It wasn’t a hard decision for me," Borys told us from his army unit.

📱 Many LGBTQ+ Ukrainians use dating apps to stay in touch and talk tactics.

💬 "I checked Grindr and Hornet just to check out who’s nearby and who stayed here," Borys said.

🪖 "Mostly it's people who volunteer for the army or serve in the defence forces."

🗣️ “My favourite places in Kyiv are now in ruins,” says Oleg.

👨‍👦 The 22-year-old former beer sommelier signed up to the armed forces along with his father after first getting his family out of the country.

🌈 Oleg came out as bi in 2019, influencing his desire to fight.

👬 From Kyiv, Oleg told us he had "never encountered a negative attitude" in the capital as an #LGBTQ citizen – something he wants to protect.

🤜 He says war has brought people together.

🔴 But he sometimes hides his sexuality, wary of how the older generation might react.

⛪️ Ukraine legalised gay sex in 1991, but some conservative attitudes remain in the Orthodox Christian nation.

📢 The far-right has previously targeted the LGBTQ+ community and Lenny Emson of @KyivPride warned that homophobic groups and individuals have also joined the army.

⏰ Dmytro is a pan, non-binary 23-year-old, who gets up at 6am every day for shooting training.

🗣️ "I didn’t want to go to the army, but then all of this went down, and I volunteered," he told us.

🔴 He says he keeps track of time by counting the days of war.

💅 Spotting Dmytro's sparkly nails, a training inspector hoped he was "just an aesthetic person".

🗨️ But added: "Actually, I don’t care whoever you are. You are here to kill the invader, that’s what matters."

⚖️ Not everyone is sure the harmony will outlive the war, though.

🗣️ “When the war is over, I think we will have to fight for human rights again,” says Vladislav, a gay soldier in Kiev.

🟠 Ukraine ranks 39th in Europe in terms of #LGBTQ+ rights, according to @ILGAEurope.

🇺🇦 But if there is "no more Ukraine", he fears further repression.

🔮 So what does the future hold for these #LGBTQ+ soldiers in Ukraine?

🗣️ “First, we have to win the war and stop it," Oleg. "Then you can call me again and we’ll speak.”

Read @enriqueanarte's full story. 👇
openlynews.com/i/?id=a2c755d0…