The rainbow press in Flanders have voiced their support for LGBTQI+ people and organisations in Ukraine, amidst the ongoing war involving Russia, Chechnya, Belarus and Ukraine. 

The Flemish queer press – GayLive.be, Touristico Gay, Pink In Our Lives, brand ambassador Jens Geerts (she/her), Gaybars.eu and ourselves – call on their readers and visitors to support the fundraising by the charity Forbidden Colours as much as possible and to respond to the call made last Monday by State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) to host Ukrainian refugees if possible. 

Many (LGBTQI+) civilians are in serious danger from Russia’s aggression.

Forbidden Colours

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has shocked the whole world. It is estimated that some 1.4 million refugees will cross the Ukrainian border in the coming months. Many of them will belong to the LGBTQI+ community. In the past, refugee camps have proven not to be safe places for LGBTQI+ people.

That is why the Brussels non-profit organisation Forbidden Colours  has started a fundraiser to support partner organisations in Poland, Hungary and Romania that will be hosting LGBTQI+ refugees in the coming weeks. 

They will provide primary care, such as housing. 

In the meantime, Forbidden Colors pleads with senior government officials for a more sustainable solution within the European Union for these LGBTQI+ refugees. In the past, it often turned out that refugee camps are not a safe place for LGBTQI+ people. 

The director of Forbidden Colours, Rémy Bonny (he/him), will coordinate the actions from Poland: “This is all hands on deck for peace, human rights and democracy in Europe. When we the intelligence services were contacted two weeks ago about a list to liquidate LGBTQI+ activists in Ukraine after the invasion, we immediately contacted our partners. We must support our Ukrainian friends in their fight for freedom and dare to roll up our sleeves ourselves.”

With a donation, everyone helps an LGBTQI+ person to survive Vladimir Putin‘s cruelty. Intelligence obtained from The Washington Post has proven that Russia has a list of Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps” after the invasion. 

The list also includes LGBTIQI+ activists. 

Donations can be made at https://tiltify.com/@remybonny/support-ukrainian-lgbtiq-refugees. 

Asylum for refugees in Belgium

On Monday, State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi pleaded that Belgians who want to host Ukrainian refugees register with their municipality. 

Together with the National Crisis Center, the municipalities are responsible for coordinating housing on the site. The rainbow press also support this call. 

More on this subject

• Political and governmental homophobia and transphobia in Europe not necessarily backed by public opinion.
• COVID-19 and Anti-LGBTQI initiatives make queer life harder in Europe.
• To be or not to be out and proud LGBTQ when travelling?.
• Are you travelling to a hostile destination?.
• ILGA-Europe: COVID-19 affected LGBTI people’s human rights heavily.
• European Union declared ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’ as Belgium mourns murdered gay man.
• Travel guide for people with HIV.
• RAINBOW EUROPE MAP AND INDEX 2021 | These are the LGBTQI-friendly and LGBTQI-unfriendly countries in Europe.
• European Union declared ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’ but reality is quite different.
• A plea for LGBTQ travel in post-communist Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Queer in a hostile world: more likely to be arrested for looking gay than for actual homosexual acts.

Queer Belgium

• ‘LGBTQIA+ BXL, Collecting Memories’ Exhibition in Brussels City Museum.
• MSK Gent – Museum of Fine Arts Ghent introduces LGBTQ+ tour.
• Full edition ft. parade and festival days for Antwerp Pride 2022.
• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI bookshop Kartonnen Dozen looking for a new home.
• Darklands 2022 hints at postponement.
• BRUSSELS | Exploring gay intimacy and sexuality at ‘In The Mood For Love’ exhibition.
• City chronicle ‘De kleur van de stad maakt mijn ziel amoureus’ recounts Queer Antwerp history.
• ‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography’ exhibition at FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum.
• REVIEW | David Hockney double exhibition at Bozar Brussels’ arts museum.
• Antwerp Pride 2022 from 10 to 14 August for a 15th edition.