Olena Hryhoriak

I found the Insight community exactly when I was searching for myself. By then I had almost put down roots in the Khmelnytskyi region, working as a general practice — family medicine doctor in the village of Mynkivtsi. But an unpleasant situation happened: after my coming-out at work, my supervisor began showing intolerance towards my homosexuality and started harassing me. Tellingly, there was no negativity or prejudice from my other colleagues at all.

I decided not to tolerate the toxic treatment and resigned. I returned to my home city, where an Insight branch had just opened. I began volunteering and gave my first lesbian lectures on girls’ and women’s health for our community.

Volunteering at Insight showed me that socialising and gatherings can be built on respect, safety and acceptance. When I shared my story of workplace discrimination, I realised: there are people and civic organisations ready to support you in situations like this. I sincerely wanted to become part of this force that drives change. Today I lead the organisation’s regional branches, defending queer people’s rights in the regions despite any pressure and attempts to disrupt our events.

What fuels me:

Communicating with people, empathy, active listening and public speaking — that is where I feel truly in my element.

Blitz interview:

What do you do when you are not saving human rights?
Active leisure and hiking. Meditation and reflection with the people close to me. Tasty food and good wine 🙂

One sentence about yourself that is not a job title:
Created not to live up to other people’s expectations.

Three words that describe you:
Charisma, intellect, beauty — all in one 🙂

A queer watch you recommend?
The film The Danish Girl and the series Pose. They resonate deeply with the themes of identity, the fight for the right to be yourself, and the power of community.

Publications, interviews and media archive:

• Being a lesbian in Chernivtsi. The story of Olena Hryhoriak — a candid interview about coming out, discrimination in medicine and the work of the Chernivtsi branch.
• “There are lawsuits, because not everywhere is safe.” How an LGBTQ+ shelter works in Chernivtsi — a report on our shelter’s work during the full-scale war.
• The mayor of Frankivsk backed an attempt to disrupt the opening of an LGBT centre — coverage of countering far-right groups and defending the right to safe events in Ivano-Frankivsk.
• A hundred vehicles for the Armed Forces and an LGBT shelter — how Insight’s volunteer team in Chernivtsi combines humanitarian aid to the army with community support.
• Discrimination against members of the LGBTQI+ community: how it manifests itself