“Despite the cold in our homes, our hearts are warm”

The screen is black. In the background, you hear only the explosions of rockets hitting the city. “Good morning,” says Salv, waking up in an air-raid shelter. Everyone looks at them in disbelief.

This Christmas, Munich Kyiv Queer is once again collecting donations for queer war victims in Ukraine, people who have lost their jobs, their homes, their families, and friends. To show how life is for queer Ukrainians today, we’d like to introduce you to Salv Strizh (he/him), a trans* activist from Ukraine.

Our reporter Iryna asked Salv to share a glimpse of daily life in the midst of war. Salv sent us a video – a moving journey through a single day.

Activism against all odds

Salv radiates remarkable strength fuelled by humour, self-determination, and compassion. He works as an activist with the NGO Resistance, supporting other trans* people and spreading hope where it’s needed most. The work gives Salv and the team not only purpose, but also stability — and even joy.

Activists like Salv carry on their mission under the harshest conditions. They endure long power cuts, freezing homes, and the constant fear of rocket and drone attacks. Still, they keep going – driven by a vision of a Ukraine that welcomes everyone. One day, that vision will come true: When peace finally reigns.

Salv says, “Despite the cold in our homes, our hearts are warm.”

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 in Ukraine and use funds for urgently needed care or evacuation of queer people. Every donation helps and is used 100 percent to benefit queer people in Ukraine. Donate here

VULNERABLE GROUP And here you can find out why queer people in war need our support.

Questions? www.MunichKyivQueer.org/help

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