The roots of this project go back to a history where, after years and years of Soviet forbiddance and suppression, a queer scene started to sprout from the underground.
While still being marginalized by the society brought up in past times, little by little it obtains its own unique voice different from others. I personally feel obliged to give this voice a visual form, one of many. At some point, a Russian full-scale invasion put the project on a brief hold, but after it became relatively safe in 2022, I came back to continue working on it.
Despite the fact that the queer community might be different from others by definition and being personally against labels, it is important for me to somehow erase the barrier between queer people and other groups. I try to look for something that connects us rather than divides us. There’s still a lot of issues for queer people as opposed to other groups.
Though the problem of the war in Ukraine feels much bigger at the moment, the protection of LGBTQI human rights and freedoms in Ukraine is at an insufficient level. The authorities are still hesitant to pass the much-needed «intolerance-motivated crime» law, the law on civil partnerships, and much more. I hope that at some point, there will be an understanding of diversity, acceptance, and unity. I think those are the things that are much needed now, despite the war in Ukraine.
’To Be Who We Want To Be’— with these simple words put together, the message is simple: each person deserves the right and freedom of self-identification. I admire these beautiful people.