'We want to have Pride in Yalta': Activism for Ukraine's LGBT+ community in a time of war
euronews.comUKRAINEPRIDE, an LGBT+ NGO that promotes LGBT+ rights in Ukraine, as well as fostering a sense of Ukrainian cultural identity.The organisation was born four years ago, when a TV show that current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, starred in aired a homophobic joke.
In response, Dvizhon and his colleagues protested outside TV station offices in Kyiv.Already an experienced filmmaker, Dvizhon decided to turn his attention to supporting his community in Ukraine. “I see that in Ukraine, as a director, I can change a lot with my activism,” he explains. “I’m trying to change stereotypes in Ukraine through my video art.”In 2018, Dvizhon made a groundbreaking music video for famed Ukrainian musician Iryna Bilyk.
The video, for Bilyk's song ‘Ne Hovai Ochei,’ or ‘Don’t Hide Your Eyes,’ showed same-sex couples kissing.“It was enormous to show two guys who were kissing and naked under the water.
You need to make something different,” says Dvizhon.Since then, Dvizhon has turned his attention to fashion campaigns, even winning an award at Rome International Fashion Film Festival in June for his campaign ‘Love Airlines’ with couture brand FROLOV.Dvizhon’s current project, ‘Pride is not Available in your Area’ is the latest iteration of his LGBT+ activism in Ukraine.Aiming to highlight the experiences of ordinary LGBT+ Ukrainians during the war, Dvizhon is keen to change hearts and minds in his home country.The film, made with help from queer dating app Taimi, used volunteers to tell the stories of real life LGBT+ soldiers, doctors and ordinary citizens during Russia’s invasion.
