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[[They say they are fighting not only for Ukraine but also for equal rights. VOA talked to Ukrainian soldiers who are also members of the LGBTQ community. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUkraine LGBT Fighters – Bakalets
HEADLINE: LGBT Soldiers in Ukraine – Fighting for Their Homeland and Their Rights
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME)
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Lesia Bakalets
VIDEO EDITOR: Aleksandr Bergan
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Bowman, DJ balance
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, see courtesies
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB TV X only RADIO __
TRT: 3:06
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[They say they are fighting not only for Ukraine but also for equal rights. VOA talked to Ukrainian soldiers who are also members of the LGBTQ community. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((Viktor Pylypenko, Ukrainian Military)) ((Zoom)) ((02:41)) ((IN UKR))
“I am a military medic.”
((Anastasia Konfederat, Ukrainian Military)) ((Zoom)) ((IN UKR)) ((16:08))
“I am a soldier, an unmanned aircraft operator.”
((Oleksandr Zhygan, Ukrainian Military)) ((Zoom)) ((IN UKR)) ((15:45))
“Mortar platoon. I don’t know if you can see, but there’s a small mortar behind me.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Zoom))
Viktor Pylypenko, Anastasia Konfederat and Oleksandr Zhygan
((End courtesy))
serve in the Ukrainian military. All three are on the front lines in the east and south of Ukraine.
Apart from fighting for their country, they are also members of the LGBTQ community.
((Mandatory courtesy: Точка опоры UA - NGO Fulcrum UA))
((NARRATION))
In 2018, as an openly-gay veteran of a volunteer military unit, Pylypenko started an organization called Union of the LGBT Military,
((End courtesy))
Veterans and Volunteers to press for equal rights in the armed forces.
Konfederat is a member of the organization.
((Mandatory cortesy: Anastasia Konfederat) + https://lgbtmilitary.org.ua/#!/tproduct/250743101-1498486301712))
And like others, she wants Ukraine to legalize same-sex marriages.
((Anastasia Konfederat, Ukrainian Military)) ((Zoom)) ((IN UKR)) ((02:24)) КАРИНА
“I’m in a relationship now, and there’s a child in this relationship. And I want this child to have all the privileges I have as a member of the military.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Oleksandr Zhugan + Instagram Logo))
Prior to the war, Zhygan taught acting. On February 25th, together with his partner, he joined the Territorial Defense. He says the war made him realize that he and his partner don’t have the same rights as straight couples.
((Oleksandr Zhygan, Ukrainian Military)) ((Zoom)) ((12:32)) ((UKR))
“The prospect of dying is very real, and it makes one think about what would happen to your partner. // ((03:33)) If you’re killed on the front lines, your partner has no rights.”
((NARRATION)) ((Mandatory courtesy: https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/144562))
In May, a civilian, Anastasia Sovenko, started a petition to legalize same-sex marriages. She quickly collected 25,000 signatures — enough for Ukraine’s president to consider it.
((End courtesy))
On August 2, Zelensky responded, saying that ((Mandatory courtesy: https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/144562))
to legalize same-sex marriages, the country’s constitution would have to be changed – something
((End courtesy))
Ukraine can’t do during a war. But he proposed an alternative: a civil partnership bill.
((Mariia Klius, Human Rights Activist)) ((Zoom)) ((IN UKRAINIAN)) ((07:45))
“It creates a legal mechanism that avoids changing the constitution and the concept of marriage, yet it allows same-sex couples to register their relationships in the state and legal spheres.”
((NARRATION))
Supporters say it’s a good first step, but not enough.
((Annise Parker, LGBTQ Victory Fund President and CEO)) ((Zoom)) ((ENG)) ((10:12-))
“Marriage is marriage. A second-class distinction, a second-class relationship – defined by another name does not equal marriage. It can be legally important, particularly in the time of turmoil, and provide some peace of mind, but it is not equality.”
((NARRATION ))
The bill could draw opposition from Ukraine’s Orthodox Church. But LGBTQ rights activists say attitudes are changing in the country. Polls have found the percentage of Ukrainians viewing LGBTQ groups “in a negative light” has dropped from 60% to 38% in the last six years.
((For Lesia Bakalets in Washington, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D.C.
Embargo DateAugust 11, 2022 16:20 EDT
Byline((For Lesia Bakalets in Washington,
Anna Rice, VOA News))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
