1
00:00:09,876
--> 00:00:12,212
LGBTQ+
fight on the
the
front line
2
00:00:12,212
--> 00:00:16,583
as
much as
heterosexuals.
3
00:00:20,153
--> 00:00:22,856
It
is impossible to tell you about the
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00:00:22,856
--> 00:00:26,893
electronic
music scene without mentioning
of
the LGBT community.
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00:00:26,926
--> 00:00:28,895
I
have an appointment with Dimitri
and
his friends.
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00:00:28,895
--> 00:00:32,165
They
organize LGBT techno
parties
every month in Kyiv.
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00:00:41,341
--> 00:00:44,444
And
they're going to tell us about
the
place of the gay community in Ukraine
8
00:00:44,711
--> 00:00:47,714
in
this time of war.
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00:00:51,985
--> 00:00:52,852
Hi
Dimitri!
10
00:00:52,852
--> 00:00:54,020
Hi,
Dimitri. Nice to meet you.
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00:00:54,020
--> 00:00:54,854
Nice
to meet you. Marc
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00:00:54,854
--> 00:00:59,426
I'm
Dimitri
and
this is Alex and Vlad.
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00:00:59,592
--> 00:01:03,496
And
here we are
preparing
14
00:01:04,230
--> 00:01:06,633
a
festival whose name
is
Stechka, here in Ukraine.
15
00:01:06,633
--> 00:01:07,967
And
you speak a little French?
16
00:01:08,334
--> 00:01:10,136
-Just
a little.
Did
you learn it at school?
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00:01:10,136
--> 00:01:11,805
At
university.
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00:01:11,938
--> 00:01:14,841
Shall
we continue in English?
-Yes,
of course.
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00:01:24,150
--> 00:01:25,618
Yes,
we're in the process
of
preparing
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00:01:25,618
--> 00:01:27,087
our
party which will take place
next
Saturday.
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00:01:30,790
--> 00:01:32,826
These
celebrations began
after
the war began.
22
00:01:32,826
--> 00:01:36,162
And
these parties are
LGBTQ+
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00:01:36,463
--> 00:01:40,500
where
we collect money
for
soldiers on the front line.
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00:01:40,533
--> 00:01:45,438
And
these celebrations began June
following
the start of the war
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00:01:45,738
--> 00:01:48,108
at
a time when social life
was at a standstill.
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00:01:48,108
--> 00:01:51,277
We
started
a
group of gay guys
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00:01:51,277
--> 00:01:54,180
and
we didn't do any promotion
for
these parties,
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00:01:54,180
--> 00:01:57,250
there
was no public communication
on
the networks-
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00:01:57,250
--> 00:02:00,720
so we gathered our friends,
who
called their friends
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00:02:00,720
--> 00:02:02,856
and
they called their friends
and
now
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00:02:02,856
--> 00:02:04,724
there
are over 1000 of us
at
each party.
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00:02:21,374
--> 00:02:24,310
It's
a place where you can
express
who you are,
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00:02:24,911
--> 00:02:28,681
a
place where you can feel confident
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00:02:29,182
--> 00:02:32,719
where
you can relax and
not
suffer
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00:02:32,719
--> 00:02:36,055
any
judgment or anything.
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00:02:36,055
--> 00:02:38,057
Just
be yourself,
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00:02:39,159
--> 00:02:40,360
relax,
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00:02:40,360
--> 00:02:43,596
be
yourself and be surrounded by people
who
are like you -
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00:02:44,764
--> 00:02:49,702
who
understand the social
pressure
we're under.
40
00:02:57,110
--> 00:03:00,380
You
live with this feeling of pressure.
41
00:03:00,380
--> 00:03:02,949
I've
been feeling it for
30
years, you know?
42
00:03:02,949
--> 00:03:05,318
And
then finally, you go to that place
where
you feel safe
43
00:03:05,318
--> 00:03:08,021
surrounded
by people who feel
the
same emotion
44
00:03:08,721
--> 00:03:10,256
and
you have this...
45
00:03:12,692
--> 00:03:15,495
And
you see, that vibe
is
incredible.
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00:03:15,495
--> 00:03:18,831
And
what you feel is that
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00:03:19,566
--> 00:03:24,003
you
see the people next to you
and
you think: I know how you feel, man.
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00:03:24,971
--> 00:03:26,072
That's
it!
49
00:03:27,040
--> 00:03:28,808
It
just goes to show what
this
community
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00:03:28,808
--> 00:03:30,476
is.
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00:03:31,077
--> 00:03:35,348
And
how we help each other and
have
these common values
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00:03:35,348
--> 00:03:37,817
and
a common goal:
dancing
for freedom
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00:03:37,817
--> 00:03:41,020
and
raise money for the soldiers
fighting
on the front.
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00:03:45,358
--> 00:03:49,128
Society
rejects us and people say
we
should all be sent to the front.
55
00:03:49,963
--> 00:03:55,134
But
they're wrong. We're already there
and
there are plenty of us.
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00:03:56,035
--> 00:03:56,970
And
we're equal.
57
00:03:57,804
--> 00:03:59,839
No
worse, no better.
58
00:04:06,813
--> 00:04:09,949
How
has the situation
of
homosexuals been different
59
00:04:09,949
--> 00:04:13,386
before
and after the war?
60
00:04:14,187
--> 00:04:16,189
Okay,
before the war,
our
situation
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00:04:16,189
--> 00:04:19,325
was
comparable to what
we
can see
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00:04:19,325
--> 00:04:21,861
in
all Slavic countries.
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00:04:21,861
--> 00:04:23,563
But
when the war started
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00:04:23,563
--> 00:04:27,000
the
target of hatred
changed
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00:04:27,367
--> 00:04:32,372
towards
a greater enemy,
not
within but without.
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00:04:32,639
--> 00:04:35,642
And
that concerns the whole of society,
doesn't
it?
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00:04:35,842
--> 00:04:45,451
As
for the LGBTQ community, there too,
fear
also came from this greatest enemy.
68
00:04:45,551
--> 00:04:48,821
That's
why there's
less
fear of being yourself
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00:04:49,088
--> 00:04:52,058
to
express yourself
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00:04:52,625
--> 00:04:55,962
and
impose your identity
people
around you.
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00:04:57,130
--> 00:04:59,532
In
just a few years
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00:04:59,532
--> 00:05:04,537
I
think we've really come a
long
way in terms of diversity,
73
00:05:04,537
--> 00:05:08,808
recognition
and visibility of the
LGBTQ
community.
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00:05:09,075
--> 00:05:10,877
And
all that...
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00:05:12,745
--> 00:05:16,349
It
all happened so fast
we
didn't even see it coming.
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00:05:17,884
--> 00:05:19,919
Just
liberated from the U.S.S.R.
77
00:05:19,919
--> 00:05:23,389
Ukraine
legalized homosexuality
in
1991,
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00:05:23,790
--> 00:05:27,527
but
in a society that is still very rural
and
conservative, ruled by an
79
00:05:27,527
--> 00:05:31,964
by
an orthodox religion openly hostile
to
homosexual identity,
80
00:05:32,398
--> 00:05:35,401
Being
gay in Ukraine
has
long been very difficult.
81
00:05:44,577
--> 00:05:47,880
Violent
attacks by far-right
extremist
groups
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00:05:47,880
--> 00:05:51,718
against
the Gay Pride
organized
in the capital,
83
00:05:51,984
--> 00:05:54,987
showed
the evolution of mentalities
on
this subject is still challenged.
84
00:06:00,126
--> 00:06:03,429
You
can see this quest the LGBT situation
85
00:06:03,596
--> 00:06:05,231
in
Kyiv.
86
00:06:05,231
--> 00:06:08,901
That
we need so much protection.
That
we need so many policemen
87
00:06:08,901
--> 00:06:12,004
to
be able to demonstrate for our rights.
88
00:06:21,681
--> 00:06:24,117
My
belief is that this is wrong,
89
00:06:24,117
--> 00:06:25,818
it's
a sin
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00:06:25,818
--> 00:06:29,622
and
we can say that it can destroy
the
moral side of our country.
91
00:06:32,091
--> 00:06:33,159
In
2019,
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00:06:33,159
--> 00:06:36,362
LGBT
rights organizations
LGBT
rights in Ukraine
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00:06:36,362
--> 00:06:41,033
reported
140 incidents of homophobic
homophobic
incidents, ranging from
94
00:06:41,033
--> 00:06:42,635
to
serious physical assaults.
95
00:06:48,441
--> 00:06:50,076
Before
the war,
96
00:06:50,576
--> 00:06:55,815
there
were extreme right-wing groups
that
were more numerous and stronger
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00:06:57,884
--> 00:06:59,218
And
on the opposite side
98
00:07:01,320
--> 00:07:04,056
the
gay community,
the
LGBTQ+ community
99
00:07:04,056
--> 00:07:07,160
was
more isolated from the rest
of
society,
100
00:07:07,160
--> 00:07:08,661
people
were in
their
bubble.
101
00:07:08,861
--> 00:07:10,496
I'm
really
happy
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00:07:10,496
--> 00:07:14,500
the
way things have turned out...
even
if it is war.
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00:07:15,601
--> 00:07:16,969
The
LGBT community
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00:07:16,969
--> 00:07:19,906
is
heavily involved
in
the war effort against Russia.
105
00:07:20,039
--> 00:07:24,577
The
LGBT Military Union was founded
in
2018 by Viktor Pylypenko,
106
00:07:24,911
--> 00:07:29,515
a
gay veteran of a volunteer battalion
of
volunteers deployed in the Donbass.
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00:07:29,749
--> 00:07:33,419
This
LGBT union is committed
to
equal rights rights in society
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00:07:33,419
--> 00:07:37,557
and
supports gay soldiers
fighting
on the front line.
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00:07:37,857
--> 00:07:39,425
This
is the association that receives
110
00:07:39,425
--> 00:07:43,496
proceeds
from Strichka evenings organized
by
Dimitri, Alex and Vlad.
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00:07:51,270
--> 00:07:55,308
People
need to know that
LGBTQ
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00:07:55,308
--> 00:07:58,878
people
fight on the front line
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00:07:58,878
--> 00:08:00,680
as
much as heterosexuals.
114
00:08:04,550
--> 00:08:07,186
Because
in this society,
115
00:08:07,186
--> 00:08:11,123
there
was always this kind of
thoughts:
where are the homosexuals?116
116
00:08:11,858
--> 00:08:14,293
Why
aren't they on the front line?
117
00:08:14,293
--> 00:08:19,398
And
now people see that they're
are
fighting on the same level
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00:08:19,398
--> 00:08:23,236
and
on the same lines
as
heterosexuals.
119
00:08:23,736
--> 00:08:26,739
Now
the Ukrainians
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00:08:27,206
--> 00:08:30,776
understand
what the
values
121
00:08:31,077
--> 00:08:33,679
they
want to move towards
go
to
122
00:08:33,679
--> 00:08:38,583
to
build the society they
they
really want.
123
00:08:38,583
--> 00:08:41,820
And
it's definitely towards democracy,
124
00:08:41,854
--> 00:08:44,824
towards
democratic values,
towards
independence, towards freedom.
125
00:08:45,024
--> 00:08:50,763
And
this is the diametrically opposed path
of
our neighbors.
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00:08:50,763
--> 00:08:54,433
And
that's why I think
that
it's a crucial thing
127
00:08:55,501
--> 00:08:59,405
that has influenced society's
attitude
towards the LGBTQ+ community
128
00:09:00,072
--> 00:09:01,007
because
people started
to
say
129
00:09:03,042
--> 00:09:07,914
okay,
we don't want
Ukraine
130
00:09:08,047
--> 00:09:12,351
to
have the same behavior and values
as
in Russia.
131
00:09:12,351
--> 00:09:15,721
What
we really want is the opposite.
132
00:09:15,721
--> 00:09:17,690
Yes,
it's to make a difference.
133
00:09:20,226
--> 00:09:23,896
When
you think of war and the
dramatic
impact it has it has on a society,
134
00:09:24,230
--> 00:09:27,266
we
don't necessarily imagine
that
it can be used as a springboard
135
00:09:27,300
--> 00:09:28,935
for
new ideas.
136
00:09:28,935
--> 00:09:31,671
Yet
history
has
shown us otherwise.
137
00:09:31,671
--> 00:09:35,074
Women's
rights, for example, have
progressed
enormously in Europe
138
00:09:35,074
--> 00:09:38,144
during
the two world wars,
when
they were able to participate
139
00:09:38,144
--> 00:09:40,079
society,
140
00:09:40,079
--> 00:09:43,449
work,
while the men were sent to the
men
were sent to the front.
141
00:09:43,749
--> 00:09:47,954
It
was this upheaval, brought about
by
the war, which led to the evolution
142
00:09:47,954
--> 00:09:51,591
of
gender roles and laid the foundations
of
the women's rights movement.
143
00:09:51,924
--> 00:09:55,795
War
can become an opportunity
for
change, for social evolution,
144
00:09:56,128
--> 00:09:59,365
it's
also often
a
gas pedal for art and culture.
145
00:10:01,834
--> 00:10:03,269
Just
now you were telling me that
146
00:10:03,269
--> 00:10:07,073
you
had started collecting
from
the beginning of the war.
147
00:10:07,139
--> 00:10:07,673
Yeah!
148
00:10:07,673
--> 00:10:11,310
It
gives a different perspective on what's
what's
going on.
149
00:10:11,310
--> 00:10:13,179
And
with art,
150
00:10:13,179
--> 00:10:18,451
you
can look
a
problem with different eyes.
151
00:10:19,118
--> 00:10:22,421
Yes,
and it's true that when the war
started,
we could have said to ourselves
152
00:10:22,421
--> 00:10:25,625
that
art would be the last thing
you'd
want to buy?
153
00:10:26,058
--> 00:10:29,895
And
what the artists did
is
that they started offering their work
154
00:10:30,229
--> 00:10:31,931
as
donations.
155
00:10:31,931
--> 00:10:36,402
Basically,
you buy my work
and
I give the money for those who fight.
156
00:10:36,402
--> 00:10:38,070
They
had to adapt to the new situation.
157
00:10:38,070
--> 00:10:40,806
And
painters began to be
inspired
158
00:10:40,806
--> 00:10:46,512
by
the war and what was going on.
159
00:10:47,880
--> 00:10:50,650
And
all this made
160
00:10:50,650
--> 00:10:54,954
Ukrainian
art,
contemporary
art.
161
00:10:54,954
--> 00:10:57,390
And
I think it's great.
162
00:10:57,890
--> 00:11:00,292
Can
you show me the works
you've
bought?
163
00:11:00,292
--> 00:11:03,295
We
can start with
this
photograph.
164
00:11:03,529
--> 00:11:07,833
This
is a photo I bought
at
the beginning of the war
165
00:11:07,833
--> 00:11:12,271
in
an auction organized to
raise
money for the military.
166
00:11:12,571
--> 00:11:17,843
This
is a mosaic wall in Marioupol,
167
00:11:18,944
--> 00:11:22,481
In
a bus station.
168
00:11:22,481
--> 00:11:25,184
This
photo was taken before the war
169
00:11:25,184
--> 00:11:29,121
and
this place no longer exists
because
the city
170
00:11:29,188
--> 00:11:32,491
has
been completely destroyed.
171
00:11:33,826
--> 00:11:36,929
This
other work is called
The
Fighters
172
00:11:37,229
--> 00:11:40,232
and
was created by
Maria
Plyatsko.
173
00:11:40,399
--> 00:11:43,836
This
is a very interesting technique
because
it's printed with stone.
174
00:11:43,969
--> 00:11:48,274
The
stone is hollowed out and
used
for printing.
175
00:11:48,274
--> 00:11:49,975
in
three parts.
176
00:11:50,076
--> 00:11:54,413
And
this is a work by my friend
Katia
Zavhorodnia
177
00:11:54,747
--> 00:11:59,051
and
it's also a very interesting technique
because it's drawn point by point,
178
00:11:59,385
--> 00:12:03,222
which
means you have to do
each
stitch by hand
179
00:12:03,222
--> 00:12:07,626
which
is very long and meditative
180
00:12:07,626
--> 00:12:11,030
and
it takes a very long time
181
00:12:11,530
--> 00:12:14,166
to
make this drawing.
182
00:12:14,166
--> 00:12:17,369
And
it conveys a sense of peace
183
00:12:17,369
--> 00:12:21,674
because
to finish this job
you
have to put these points very precisely
184
00:12:22,007
--> 00:12:25,511
and
to do that you have to be at peace,
very
calm,
185
00:12:25,511
--> 00:12:29,448
and
that's what I love about this work.