Podcast: Queer Ukrainians on the frontlines

LA Times
·1 min read
A gay and lesbian rights activist waves a rainbow flag during the annual Gay Pride parade, protected by riot police in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, June 17, 2018. Several thousand supporters of gay pride have held a march in Ukrainian capital that lasted about 20 minutes despite opponents attempts to block them. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A gay and lesbian rights activist waves a rainbow flag during the June 2018 gay pride parade in Kiev, Ukraine. Several thousand supporters of gay pride held a 20-minute march in the capital despite opponents' attempts to block them. (Evgeniy Maloletka / Associated Press)

Ukraine was never a utopia for gays and transgender people, but activists there say things have improved over the years. Now, though, people are worried that Russia's invasion could put all of that progress at risk. Today we talk to two LGBTQ+ Ukrainians, one who's fighting against Russia for his country — and another who fled Ukraine but is continuing her fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Read the full transcript here.

Host: The Times: Daily News from the L.A. Times producer David Toledo

Guests: L.A. Times Latin America correspondent Kate Linthicum

More reading:

Will Russia bring its war on LGBTQ people to Ukraine?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.