Anastasiia Zhurbenko

SMM manager

I’m a demiromantic pansexual who especially adores women — wholly, completely, and always. A philologist by training, an ambassador of classic and contemporary feminist literature, a fan of soul-searching and reflection — just a person who can do the minimum but believes in the maximum! 🙂

I came to Insight out of a desire to take part in the fight for the rights of the queer community, and out of admiration for the work of Olena Shevchenko.

My path in human rights isn’t a single moment but the pieces of a life that kept assembling into a whole: from taking part in a feminist club as a teenager to working at Insight NGO. I was lucky to have my mother’s and brother’s support after my coming out, but I also knew fear, homophobia and society’s judgement, which for a long time kept me from relationships. A sense of injustice and the urge to be a reliable support for the community became my main driving force. I came to Insight to be part of the change, to voice a clear position, and to be there for those who need it.

What energises me:

Being part of a community whose aspirations are the greatest expression of love. My main sources of inspiration at the organisation are:

The team and leadership: a caring atmosphere, the support of colleagues and a shared desire to change the world for the better.
Connection with the community: the audience’s feedback on our content, gratitude for collaborations, and the responses of the people we help.
Solidarity: active cooperation between different human rights organisations — joint marches, protests and prides.

Quick interview:

What do you do when you’re not saving human rights?
I play chess, knit, dive into reading, and look after my cats as a caring cat-mum.

One sentence about yourself that isn’t a job title:
A knight fighting the destructiveness of this world.

Three words that describe you:
Responsible. Compassionate. Creative.

Any queer watching or reading recommendations?

Books: Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, with its foundational thesis “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”
Films and series: Sex Education (for its apt and varied representation), Carol (for its sensuality and atmosphere), as well as The Handmaiden and Call Me by Your Name.