Those tempered at daybreak: LGBTQ* eyewitness reports of the war in Ukraine

30 stories, 30 fates. Portraits and stories of 30 LGBTQ* people from the south of Ukraine during the war. Exhibition at the Lesbian-Queer Centre LeZ from 24 May to 16 June; opening on 24 May.

Russia’s attack triggered a war that has not been seen in Europe since 1945. The ideas of human rights and collective security: What the modern understanding of justice and equality is based on, have been challenged.

Ukrainians united to defend their homeland, and amidst the fighting, losses, and deaths, everything else faded into the background. Any nation forced to defend its existence will face the consequences of war. It brings not only crippled lives and destroyed cities. It also brings radicalization of society and increased pressure on vulnerable groups of people. Social exclusion based on sexual orientation or gender identity is still present in Ukraine.

Living in the face of disaster

The advocacy campaign, which included collecting stories, holding an exhibition, publishing a book, and recording an audiobook, “Those Tempered at Daybreak: LGBTQ* eyewitness reports of the war in Ukraine,” is our response to the challenges of war.

The campaign was an opportunity for LGBTQ* people to share their unique experiences, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, common to many Ukrainian women and men from southern Ukraine. To speak out loud about their experiences, fears, and hopes, about their identity as a group member, even in situations where some of them were left alone in the face of disaster.

The artist Stasya Samar has portrayed these people. Her drawings are accompanied by text and audio reports from them. Stasya’s art makes communication possible where LGBTIQ*, as a vulnerable group, often prefer to remain silent.

There is a “before” and an “after”

“Those tempered at daybreak: LGBTQ* eyewitness reports of the war in Ukraine” is the title chosen to draw attention to the event that divided the lives of millions of Ukrainians around the world into “before” and “after” – the dawn of February 24, 2022. The dawn after which everything has changed and became hardened. The dawn after which the world lost so much forever.

All the stories are available to read and listen to on this website (English, Ukrainian)

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Those tempered at daybreak: LGBTQ* eyewitness reports of the war in Ukraine
When 24th of May till 16th of June in the Lesbian-Queer Centre LeZ, Müllerstraße 26
Opening 24th of May, 7 p.m., with the artist Stasya Samar and the curator Evhenija Kvasnevska from Gay Alliance Ukraine, Kyiv/Odesa
Organisedy by Munich Kyiv Queer, Gay Alliance Ukraine, MunichPride, Cultural Department of the City of Munich

This is how you can donate

INDIVIDUAL HELP Munich Kyiv Queer has its own fundraising campaign via https://www.paypal.me/ConradBreyer to support queer people in Ukraine who are in need or on the run. Why? Because not all LGBTIQ* are organised in the local LGBTIQ*-groups. This help is direct, fast and free of charge if you choose the option “For friends and family” on PayPal. If you don’t have PayPal, you can alternatively send money to the private account of Conrad Breyer, speaker of Munich Kyiv Queer, IBAN: DE427015000021121454.

All requests from the community are meticulously checked in cooperation with our partner organisations in Ukraine. If they can help themselves, they take over. If the demands for help exceed their (financial and/or material) possibilities, we will step in.

HELP FOR LGBTIQ* ORGANISATIONS To support LGBTIQ* in Ukraine we have helped set up the Alliance Queer Emergency Aid Ukraine, in which around 40 German LGBTIQ* Human Rights organisations are involved. All these groups have access to very different Human Rights organisations like Gay Alliance Ukraine in Ukraine and use funds for urgently needed care or evacuation of queer people like those portrayed here. Every donation helps and is used 100 percent to benefit queer people in Ukraine. Donate here

Questions? www.MunichKyivQueer.org/donations