2025-09-20 –, Henny-Brenner-Saal Language: English
Lives of queer Ukrainians reshaped by war — from the frontlines to exile, rebuilding community under constant uncertainty.
This talk is a mosaic of stories from queer people whose lives changed irreversibly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Some volunteered for the frontline and survived captivity, some became refugees abroad, and others chose to return home to rebuild their communities despite the danger.
As the war broke out, these people suddenly found themselves in a reality where human rights no longer applied. Not only rights and dignity were now at stake, but life itself. Survival — and protecting their loved ones — once again became a daily task.
The talk brings the audience close to the lives of soldiers facing homophobia even at the front, people navigating life in exile without language or networks, and those who, against all odds, return to rebuild what was lost.
Through personal testimonies and fragments of interviews, it offers a rare glimpse into experiences often absent from official narratives. This presentation is part of an ongoing project that also includes a forthcoming art exhibition and documentary installation by Ukrainian queer artists, planned for next year.
Speaker
Loki von Dorn — journalist, queer activist, and co-founder of Kwitne Queer e.V., the first Ukrainian LGBTQ+ organisation established in Europe (Germany).
Loki von Dorn is a queer activist, performer, and art researcher. He is a co-founder of Kwitne Queer e. V., the first and only Ukrainian LGBTQ+ organization in Germany and Europe, established in Berlin after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Having fled his hometown of Dnipro and arrived in Berlin as a refugee, Loki not only restarted his own life and artistic career but also contributed to building a support structure for the emerging Ukrainian queer community in exile.
He holds a Master’s degree in journalism. In Ukraine, he initiated a number of charitable and educational projects focused on ecological awareness, social sensitivity, psychology, queer culture, and fostering loyalty across different social groups.
Long before emigration, Loki was publicly visible as an androgynous non-binary person—present in media, on stage, and in public discourse. Through his openness, he consistently advocated for visibility, dignity, and acceptance.
He was also involved in the animal rights movement, organizing marches and awareness campaigns across various Ukrainian cities.
In Berlin, Loki continued his work under new conditions: curating queer and photography projects, supporting the growth of the Ukrainian LGBTQ+ community, and exploring themes of immigration, cultural transition, and identity in exile. His focus remains on inner freedom, solidarity, public dialogue, and the visibility of queer people as a respected, complex, and integral part of contemporary society.