Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country’s LGBTQ+ community has become one of the most vulnerable populations, facing severe sanctions including imprisonment in camps with some reporting the use of “lethal measures”.
With many from the LGBTQ+ community trying to flee from Kyiv and other major cities, the LGBTQ+ rights charity OutRight Action International has launched a vital fundraising campaign to fund groups in Ukraine to provide shelter & support to aid those displaced.
As the organisation point out “In times of crisis #LGBTIQ people face higher risks.” Already there have been reports of Russian intelligence compiling dossiers on members of Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ community.
OutRight has launched a fundraising campaign to channel funds to LGBTIQ groups in #Ukraine for shelter and support in nearby countries.
Donate and support the #LGBTIQ community: https://t.co/uMQWcAUxe0#DonateUkraine #fundraising #LGBT pic.twitter.com/r39A0tl90T
— Outright International (@OutrightIntl) February 26, 2022
In a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ambassador Bathsheba Nell Crocker, the US representative to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, reports “that human rights violations and abuses in the aftermath of a further invasion are being planned.”
She adds, “Specifically, we have credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation.”
In times of crisis #LGBTIQ people face higher risks. OutRight has launched a fundraising campaign to channel funds to groups in #Ukraine for shelter & support in nearby countries.
Stand in solidarity with Ukrainians, donate to OutRight’s fundraiser: https://t.co/3HWLPmwjRZ ???️??️⚧️ pic.twitter.com/kzLLMREg8w— Outright International (@OutrightIntl) February 24, 2022
In the letter, she goes on to report that she suspects that Russia would “likely target those who oppose Russian actions, including Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, and vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ persons.”
Since the OutRight fund was established last Thursday, it has already raised over $100K, however, with escalating violence and the increasing aggression from Russia, it has increased its target to $150k.
Thank you to our supporters who have donated to this appeal so far! If you are a UK donor and want to donate to this appeal, we can claim Gift Aid on all eligible donations.
Donate Here: https://t.co/qy76HRjRje#StandWithUkriane #LGBTQI #HumanRights https://t.co/pSUryBsoUu
— GiveOut (@GiveOut_Org) February 28, 2022
The organisation works with local grassroots organisations to deliver immediate assistance and assures that “100% of gifts will help local partners in Ukraine & surrounding countries who are supporting queer & trans people impacted by these attacks.”
To donate to the fund and support the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine go to https://outrightinternational.org/ukraine.
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