Antonina Shpak: Drag, resistance in war

Anatoliy, also known to many as Antonina Shpak, is a drag artist and now part of the Ukrainian resistance. She has been performing on stage for almost 20 years. Today, Anatoliy reports from a base in the Zaporizhzhya region. His everyday life is marked by deprivation, responsibility for his comrades and faith in the future.

In a video, Anatoliy talks about life in a state of emergency. About days that begin after a sleepless night because calls are constantly coming in, comrades are reporting in via radio, and decisions have to be made. He coordinates aid for the front lines, collects packages, organises transport – when it is even possible to bring anything to the positions.

Anatoliy has been involved continuously since the beginning of Russia’s war. First as a social worker, later with the Gay Alliance Ukraine, he has been on the radio and involved in humanitarian aid. All this is happening under the most adverse conditions: there is a lack of materials, weapons and ammunition; vehicles have to be repaired at their own expense, and everyone is constantly exhausted. And yet they carry on.

Many LGBTIQ* people are defending Ukraine

Anatoliy speaks openly about the fact that many queer people are fighting in Ukraine, some visibly, some secretly. He feels gratitude and pride for his community. At the same time, he clearly states why they will not give up: because it is about their own country, dignity and the right of all Ukrainians to live in freedom and self-determination.

Anatoliy’s video is a message of love. He bids farewell with kisses, with thanks, with the wish for a victory and a peaceful sky. His story shows that queer life in Ukraine exists, even in times of war. For him, it means active resistance, driven by love for people.

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.

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