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Equality, Dignity and Freedom
Our goal is to achieve equality for the LGBT+ community, the right to marriage, a full-fledged family, and non-discrimination. Along with defending our rights, we also demand the same rights and inclusiveness for all minorities and groups of law-abiding citizens of Ukraine without exception.
Who are we?
The organization “Ukrainian LGBT+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights” was established in 2018 after Anton Shebetko’s exhibition “We Were Here.” During the exhibition, one of the military personnel, currently the head of the organization, Viktor Pylypenko, made his first full coming out as a veteran-combatant.
Currently, the organization includes over 500 open and closed LGBT+ military personnel and veterans. We unite to achieve equal rights with other citizens of Ukraine. Currently, we are actively participating not only in defending our homeland from Russian occupiers but also in protecting rights and freedoms.
Among us are both active servicemen who are defending Ukraine and veterans who were military personnel and are members of the LGBT+ community. We help veterans socialize after returning from the front to integrate them into civilian society.
We invite both closeted LGBT+ military personnel and veterans, as well as those who would like to come out and actively create democratic changes in Ukrainian society, to join us!
Three secret Facebook groups and chats
ACHILLES BROTHERHOOD
The community of military personnel and veterans of gay and bisexual men
Traditions
Confidentiality
Prohibition of doxxing
Security of the discussion
Mutual respect
To our participants, we provide free assistance
Psychological help
Psychological help
Safe boxes
Safe boxes
Apartment and hub in Kyiv
Apartment and hub in Kyiv
Sexologist services
Sexologist services
Physiotherapy (massage)
Physiotherapy (massage)
Legal assistance
Legal assistance
Communities and support
Communities and support
We are getting involved in activism
Military personnel and veterans from our community are actively helping to promote important legislative changes:
Draft law 5488
Support for veterans and their families
Protection of military personnel's rights
The fight against corruption
Help for the front
Inclusion in all areas of socio-political life
Increasing the level of acceptance of the LGBT+ community among the Armed Forces
Attracting foreign support and strengthening international military aid to Ukraine
Inaccessible rights for LGBT+ military personnel, veterans, and their partners
Debunking homophobic propaganda about us
Remember, Ukrainian LGBT+ soldiers:
They serve in various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
They do not have any special privileges compared to heterosexual cisgender servicemen; on the contrary, they actively advocate for equal rights with them.
They adhere to the laws of Ukraine and act in accordance with them, following the rules and norms of the organization.
Our allies
Merch!
Media about us
The First Comprehensive Study on the Situation of LGBT+ Service Members in the Defense Forces of Ukraine
Mutual respect, equal treatment, and trust among all service members form the foundation of an effective institutional culture. When professionalism and the genuine contribution of every soldier—regardless of their identity—are valued, this directly enhances combat readiness and helps save lives within the ranks.
An inclusive approach not only improves recruitment but also preserves public funds invested in the training of service members, ultimately strengthening the combat capacity of individual units and the Defense Forces of Ukraine as a whole.
