Volodymyr: “Munich has shown me what the future could look like”

Learning from one another, fighting together. That is the motto under which Munich Kyiv Queer has been inviting queer people from Ukraine to Munich for the “Volunteers Workshop” for years. The focus: volunteering. The aim: to show what the community can achieve thanks to the commitment of its members! In the “Volunteers Blog”, our guests write about what moves them. Volodymyr was particularly impressed by the Munich police, who protect the rights of queer people.

Every journey involves stress, but the trip from Kyiv to Munich turned into a real test for me. Now that my emotions have settled a little, I realise: it was extremely difficult, but at the same time vital.

When plans are put to the test

It didn’t quite go to plan. The treacherous air conditioning on the train proved stronger than my immune system, and I fell ill. A fever and feeling weak aren’t exactly the best companions for a trip abroad.

But I knew why I was travelling to Munich. This meeting was my top priority, so my illness had to take a back seat to my desire to learn more and to make a difference to myself and my surroundings.

Germany welcomed me with incredible warmth – and I’m not talking about the weather, but the people. The last four days have given me a wealth of knowledge and emotions that I’m still trying to make sense of.

The police protect human rights

What impressed me most were human rights and the role of the police: it was extremely interesting to learn how the system works in Germany. Here, the police are not just an authority that enforces the law, but genuine defenders of human rights, particularly those of the LGBTIQ* community.

That is the level of security we should be striving for too. That is precisely why I would like to focus on this in particular and share that a special highlight of our day was meeting police officer Anita. Her story is exactly what we are striving for in Ukraine.

The Munich police are obliged to take action when reports of discrimination or violence against LGBTIQ* people are received. This is not merely a matter of goodwill, but a clear legal requirement in Germany.

In Germany, the protection of the rights of the LGBTIQ* community is enshrined in law, and this gives people the confidence to contact the police if necessary, without fearing that things might turn out badly, but rather that they will be listened to and the problem resolved.

Anita has provided her contact details so that Ukrainian activists can reach out to her, learn from these experiences, and guide our authorities and the police to take the community’s problems seriously and give them the attention they deserve. That is why we want the police in Ukraine to be a guarantor of safety for every individual, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Incredible hospitality

There were other issues I simply must mention – important ones concerning trans* people, their transition, and the challenges and difficulties they face. This is a profound experience that requires enormous empathy and understanding, and in this regard we also have much to learn from our colleagues in Munich.

I would also like to add that I have met some wonderful people whose kindness and hospitality simply know no bounds. I was welcomed so warmly that I could never have imagined in my life that a stranger could be received so readily and warmly. That is why I have made it my goal to ensure that such support gives people the strength to carry on, even when it seems as though there are no resources left.

It is with reluctance that I return in my thoughts to Kyiv, where I will be overwhelmed by impressions. And as sad as it may be, I must realise that this is not a dream and not simply ‘everyday life as a tourist’, but a whole story that has a beginning and no end.

The future lies in Munich’s past

It will be necessary to recount the experiences of the German LGBTIQ* community to our activists and share them with them, so that we can analyse and act in the future. And at the moment, we must clearly define which points should become our strategic goals. We have already achieved a great deal, but the experiences of our colleagues from Munich show us the direction in which we must continue to develop.

Munich has shown me what the future can look like, where the rights of every individual are protected and solidarity is more than just a word.

This is how you can help

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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