LGBTQI+ Service Members in Ukraine's Defense Forces

Educational series on rights, challenges, and inclusion of LGBTQI+ service members in Ukraine's Armed Forces for commanders and soldiers

Experts: Victor Pylypenko, Oleksandr Demenko, Maryna Didenko, +5

This educational series covers the topic of the LGBTIQ community in the military: from debunking myths and scientific explanations of sexual orientation and gender identity to the analysis of legal protection and practical tools for building an inclusive unit.

The series will be useful for:

  • Commanders and morale & psychological support officers
  • Military academy cadets
  • Gender advisors
  • Military psychologists and medical personnel

You will discover what statistics and international experience say about enhancing combat readiness through LGBTIQ+ inclusion, how Ukrainian legislation protects against discrimination, how to build a healthy environment within a unit, and how NATO armies implement inclusion.

Format:
Education series
EKTS:
0.1
Languages:
Ukrainian, English
Topic:
Military Service
Intended for:
for military personnel, for civil servants, for public servants, for active citizens

Skills:

Apply anti-discrimination law in military service
Document evidence of discriminatory actions
File a discrimination complaint in the AFU
Implement inclusion practices in a unit
Analyze cultural and religious sources of prejudice
Counter homophobic manipulations
Distinguish between sex, gender and orientation
Identify forms of discrimination in a unit
Identify stereotypes about the LGBTIQ+ community
Maintain a psychologically safe climate within a unit
Recognize and counter bullying
Support LGBTIQ+ brothers- and sisters-in-arms facing discrimination
Use correct terminology for LGBTIQ+ people

Program

Start

Debunking the common stereotypes about the LGBTIQ+ community. Scientific evidence that sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be “propaganda”

Invited experts

Victor Pylypenko
Veteran of the "Donbas" battalion and the 72nd OMBr "Chорni Zaporizhtsi", founder of NGO "Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ Military for Equal Rights"
Oleksandr Demenko
Veteran, Azovstal defender, head of NGO "LGBT Military"
Maryna Didenko
Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Practicing Psychologist
Oksana Hryhoreva
Gender Advisor of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Partners

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

NGO "Tochka Opory UA"

UKRAINIAN LGBT MILITARY