Results of 2025

Held from October 15–18, 2025, the First Ukrainian Lesbian Conference marked a historic milestone in the visibility, self-organization, and representation of the lesbian community in Ukraine.

Participation:The event brought together 176 participants from across Ukraine, as well as from various European countries, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Moldova.

Program Overview:The four-day program featured over 30 events, including panel discussions, lectures, workshops, masterclasses, and creative sessions. The roster of 42 speakers included experts, activists, scholars, servicewomen, politicians, and opinion leaders.

Key Themes: Advocacy and visibility, security, the feminist movement, human rights, the experiences of LBTQI+ women in the Armed Forces, embodiment and intimacy, family rights, the impact of war on the community, and the role of lesbians in shaping the future.

CONCEPT

United under the slogan “Our Strength is in Unity,” the conference fostered a unique atmosphere of solidarity. It was defined by warm conversations, networking, countless hugs, the exchange of lived experiences, and a collaborative search for solutions. The conference became a vital space where participants could speak freely about topics often silenced: rights, safety, relationships, history, and the future of the lesbian community.

MAIN TOPICS AND DISCUSSIONS

The program included panels and workshops covering:

• Advocacy and legislative changes, including marriage equality;
• The experience of lesbians serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
• The impact of anti-gender and conservative movements on LGBTQI+ rights;
• Trans inclusion within the lesbian community;
• Visibility in media and blogging;
• Lesbian and bisexual identity;
• Career opportunities and workplace equality;
• Documenting the history of the lesbian movement in Ukraine;
• Embodiment, sexuality, and intimacy;
• Cultural practices, literature, and art;
• Experiences of migration and returning home during the war;
• The future of the movement (EL*C workshop “The Future Belongs to Us”).

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION

We were joined by distinguished international leaders and experts:

• Malin Björk – Co-Chair of the European Left Alliance for People and Planet, former Member of the European Parliament
• Dragana Todorovic – Executive Director of EL*C
• Eka Tsereteli – Director of WISG
• Gulzada Serzhan – Co-founder of Feminita, Co-Chair of EL*C
• Zhanar Sekerbayeva – Co-founder of Feminita, PhD
• Anastasia Danilova – Program Director of EL*C

VISUAL IDENTITY

A unique visual identity was developed for the conference, featuring a custom logo, typeface, and design system. A line of branded merchandise was created to reflect the aesthetics of sisterhood and collective resilience.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT

The event served as a safe haven for dialogue, support, and community building. Participants voiced their challenges and aspirations, formulated a vision for the future, and established new partnerships. The conference significantly amplified the visibility of lesbian women in society, media, and the public sphere, demonstrating the true scale of the community and its vital role in building a free and equal Ukraine.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Insight NGO extends its deepest gratitude to all speakers, international guests, moderators, volunteers, and partner organizations. But above all, we thank every participant who brought their energy, voice, story, and support.

Together, we have created a new space of power and sisterhood. And this is just the beginning.

In 2025, Insight officially signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with UNITY Clinic, the first gender clinic in Ukraine. This partnership marks a pivotal step in the development of accessible, barrier-free, and professional medical care for transgender people and the broader LGBTQI+ community.

GOAL OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The partnership aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of medical, psychological, and educational services for LGBTQI+ individuals, as well as to strengthen the support system throughout the gender transition process.

KEY AREAS OF COOPERATION

• Knowledge Exchange: Sharing expertise between Insight NGO and UNITY Clinic.
• Mental Health: Providing psychological and psychotherapeutic support for LGBTQI+ people.
• Education: Joint events focused on mental and physical health.
• Anti-Discrimination: Combating discrimination within the healthcare system.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The signing of this memorandum is the natural evolution of a long-standing collaboration between the Insight team and UNITY Clinic specialists. The clinic has historically supported transgender people at the start of their transition, and now provides comprehensive care at all stages. This partnership bridges the gap between civil society and medicine, combining the expertise of a human rights organization with the clinical excellence of a dedicated medical team.

IMPACT

Our joint efforts will strengthen the support network for the transgender community, improve access to quality healthcare, reduce systemic barriers, and foster a safe medical environment for all LGBTQI+ people in Ukraine.

Original Title: “How the Friendly Assistance System…” (Edited for professional tone)

On June 21, a major interdisciplinary meeting was held to analyze the current state of medical services for transgender people and discuss strategic steps for the future. The event brought together transgender people, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and legal experts.

Speakers included:

• Yulia Davydova – MD, Dr. Sc. Med., Council of Europe expert
• Iryna Voloshina – Professor at Bogomolets National Medical University
• Tetiana Krainyak, Gunay Akhmedova, Inga Nesys – Endocrinologists and family doctors
• The Multidisciplinary Team of UNITY Clinic
• The Insight NGO Team: Olena Shevchenko, Hanna Litvinova, Inna Iryskina, Olga Semenova, Mykyta Karimov

STRATEGIC DIRECTION: ICD-11 IMPLEMENTATION

The next critical step is Ukraine’s transition to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). Our goal is to ensure that this update leads to the creation of modern clinical guidelines for transgender healthcare and guarantees complete depathologization in medical practice, not just on paper.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone building a space for inclusive medicine: trans people, doctors, psychologists, researchers, and human rights defenders. We thank everyone who was there at the beginning, who remains with us now, and who will continue on this path. 💜

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFIRMATIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE

(Retrospective)

Ten years ago, safe and dignified access to medical services for transgender people in Ukraine was virtually non-existent. Order No. 60 mandated compulsory hospitalization in a psychiatric ward, examination by a single commission in Kyiv, sterilization, and a series of other humiliating procedures. Stigma, discrimination, and a complete lack of systemic support dictated the reality of the trans community.

Today, the situation has transformed thanks to the consistent work of human rights activists, doctors, psychologists, and the trans community itself. We have not only achieved access to medical services—we have united a professional community that recognizes transgender, non-binary, and intersex experiences as part of human diversity, not as a ‘problem.’

A defining achievement of Insight NGO’s human rights work in 2025 was a historic court ruling legally establishing that a same-sex couple constitutes a family unit.

The Case

The case concerned the legal recognition of the relationship between Ukrainian diplomat Zorian Kis and civil society activist Timur Levchuk, who have been partners since 2013. The lawsuit sought to establish the fact of cohabitation as a family (de facto marital relations) after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to recognize Timur as a family member for a joint long-term diplomatic assignment to Israel.

Insight’s Role

Our legal team provided full strategic litigation support. Insight NGO attorney Oksana Guz developed the legal strategy and represented the couple in court. We successfully argued that the absence of specific legislative regulation cannot be grounds for denying the recognition of actual family relationships. This decision sets a vital legal precedent for the future implementation of marriage equality in Ukraine.

TIMELINE AND OUTCOME

LEGAL REASONING & SIGNIFICANCE

The court’s decision serves as a powerful instrument for the protection of same-sex couples, grounded in a comprehensive legal framework:

1. Family Code of Ukraine (Arts. 3, 9): The court interpreted the concept of “family” broadly, extending beyond the union of a man and a woman to include persons who “live together, share a common household, and have mutual rights and obligations.”
2. Constitution of Ukraine (Art. 21): Emphasized the principle of equal rights regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
3. ECHR Case Law: The court cited precedents from the European Court of Human Rights (Schalk and Kopf v. Austria, M.A. v. Italy) and key provisions of the Maymulakhin and Markiv v. Ukraine (2023) judgment, ruling that the lack of legal recognition violated the right to respect for family life (Article 8 of the Convention).

Key Finding of the Court

“The Court emphasized that a family… consists of persons who live together, are connected by common household, have mutual rights and obligations… Recognition of same-sex couples in no way prevents opposite-sex couples from marrying or starting a family in the traditional way.”

In 2025, we achieved a significant court victory regarding the protection of women’s reproductive rights.

The Case

On September 1, 2025, feminist activist Olga Kukula, together with the “Women’s March” charity (represented by attorney Oksana Guz), filed a lawsuit against the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council. The suit challenged the Council’s decision to petition the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) to ban abortions.

Legal Grounds

The lawsuit argued that the City Council’s appeal was adopted ultra vires (exceeding its legal authority) and violated women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. Furthermore, the decision contained stigmatizing and discriminatory rhetoric that reinforced gender stereotypes and shifted responsibility for the demographic situation solely onto women.

The Hearing

The defendant argued that the plaintiff lacked personal interest in the case. However, the plaintiff’s representative successfully established legal standing (locus standi) as a resident of the territorial community directly affected by the contested decision.

The Verdict

The Ivano-Frankivsk District Administrative Court upheld the claim in full, ruling that the City Council’s decision of June 27, 2025, was unlawful and subject to annulment.

Impact

This decision confirms that local authorities cannot exceed their powers to restrict reproductive rights. It serves as a crucial step in combating discriminatory practices at the local level.

This paper examines the dynamics and trends regarding the legal status of LGBTQI+ people in 15 post-Soviet countriesthat inherited the Soviet-era criminalization of “sodomy.”

Hypothesis

The report tests the hypothesis that the Russian Federation, having enshrined homophobia as state ideology and enacted repressive “anti-propaganda” laws, sets a homophobic agenda for the entire region—particularly for countries under its influence. The goal was to analyze legislative initiatives designed to restrict LGBTQI+ rights.

Key Findings

• Geopolitical Orientation is Decisive: While shared Soviet history influences attitudes toward the community, a country’s vision of its future plays a more critical role.
• The Authoritarian Path: Countries seeking to preserve authoritarian systems (looking to Russia for guidance) resort to systemic oppression of LGBTQI+ people, including “propaganda” bans and prohibitions on gender transition.
• The Democratic Path: Countries that have chosen democratization and European integration are gradually improving the legal status of LGBTQI+ people.
• Impact of War: The full-scale Russo-Ukrainian war has crystallized this divide. The war acts as a civilizational confrontation—the Rule of Force versus the Rule of Law—compelling political actors to take a definitive stand.
• Forecast: The further consolidation of authoritarian regimes, primarily Russia’s, will likely lead to deteriorating conditions for LGBTQI+ people (new restrictions on public assembly, increased persecution, and a potential return to criminalization).

Conclusion

The democratic community must actively oppose these trends, as the fight for human rights in the region is no longer just political—it is being waged on the battlefield.

Author: Inna Iryskina (Data from ILGA World Database, Rainbow Map, and other projects was used in this report).