[6ed Thomson Reuters Foundation]- There was an explosion on the other end of the phone. Eddy Etu, 37, who is a former US Marine, explains over the phone why he left his quiet life in a seaside town in California to join the Ukrainian army to fight against a Russian invasion.
Etu, who came to Ukraine, has experienced gunfights and missiles landing very close to the base. But he said the fact that he was gay was not the only concern. He proudly wears a unicorn insignia. It is a testament to the LGBTQ+ (sexual minority) masses in Ukraine.
“It’s amazing, especially in Eastern European countries, that you can wear this unicorn badge without any problems,” Etu said. Currently, it is fighting alongside Ukrainian military reserves on the eastern side of the Black Sea port of Odesa.
“It’s rewarding to be in a position where you’re helping people who are fighting for their own survival, and they welcome you with open arms.”
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, LGBTQ+ soldiers have become visible in the Ukrainian army. Many participate voluntarily and wear unicorn badges on their uniforms to show their LGBTQ+ identity.
Although Ukrainian society is largely conservative, some believe that their participation in the armed forces has boosted public support for gay and transgender rights.
Thousands of foreign militias, including LGBTQ+ people, have entered Ukraine to defend Ukraine after Russia invaded neighboring countries in what it called a “special military operation” to demilitarize the country. Etu is one of them.
In March, President Zelensky announced that more than 16,000 volunteers had volunteered for Ukraine’s “international corps”. He did not reveal how many people had arrived, so it was not possible to independently confirm that figure.
Etu, who served in Iraq, said his current soldiers did not question his sexual orientation.
“[Wcreineg]receive me Even if I have mixed feelings, they support me. That’s how it should be,” said Etu.
Etu said the experience contrasted with the “fear” he felt when he first came out while in the Marine Corps.
“If there was a problem, there was a little, but it seemed that the people from the West were a little more worried,” said Etu about his experience in Ukraine.
The Russian military offensive has shocked Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ community. Russian President Vladimir Putin has restricted the rights of LGBTQ+ people in his country. Many fear that falling under Russian rule would lead to similar tyranny.
Before the attack, conservatives in the predominantly Christian Orthodox Ukraine often spoke out against the rights of LGBTQ+ people, and members of far-right groups targeted groups and events related to the LGBTQ+ community.
Activists in the Kyiv-based LGBTQ+ rights group, Kyiv Pride, have long expressed concern about the presence of anti-gay groups and individuals in the military.
But Dallas Casey, a 28-year-old gay man from Tennessee, said he never felt any animosity while serving with members of right-wing Ukrainian groups.
“They didn’t hide their beliefs and I was very open about who I was, so we fought together,” Casey said. I was temporarily returning to Japan to support my husband, who had a misfortune with his relatives, and responded to the interview via video call from Salt Lake City.
After fighting in the “international unit” of the Ukrainian army and another battalion commanded by foreigners, Casey formed an independent unit with other foreign volunteers.
A former US military medic, Casey not only aided wounded soldiers, but also helped train other volunteers and evacuate civilians from danger zones.
Etu and Casey say that the desire to promote LGBTQ+ rights was not the main motivation behind their decision to join the war as volunteers.
However, according to Etu, the majority of Ukrainians support the promotion of the empowerment of minorities in terms of sexual orientation and gender.
“It should be known that Ukraine is now a shield not only for all other European countries, but for the world,” said Etu.
“Ukrainians here are fighting for many people, even those who are not part of the LGBTQ+ community. They also fight for us. I can say
(Reporter Enrique Anarte, translation by Erklelen)
