Dear friends –
As the war in Ukraine is raging and thousands flee the country every day, All Out has been able to provide emergency funds for groups supporting LGBT+ people in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania – thanks to donations from All Out members like you.
Last week, we visited two of the groups in Poland and we decided to share the journal notes from our trip exclusively with you:
Wednesday, March 16:
We arrive in Kraków, in southern Poland. From here, it's only 260 km / 160 miles to the Ukrainian border. At the central train station we see hundreds of Ukrainian families. Dozens of Polish volunteers in yellow vests provide them with food and hot drinks, and assist them with planning their journeys. The war suddenly feels incredibly close.
Thursday, March 17:
Kraków is the home of DOM EQ, a space created by LGBT+ activists that offers community building, free legal aid, and psychological support for LGBT+ people. In 2020, All Out members helped keep their doors open when they were running out of funds. Now they're leading the support for LGBT+ Ukrainians in their region.
We meet with Mateusz (photo below), the manager of DOM EQ. Mateusz shows us around and we meet a Ukrainian mother who is currently staying at the center with her three kids and dog. "I have lived in Kraków for most of my life," Mateusz says. "I have never seen as much suffering and desperation here as I've seen in the last few weeks with thousands of people arriving from Ukraine. Here at DOM EQ we knew we had to help as much as we could – regardless of whether someone is LGBT+ or not."
With the support from All Out members, Mateusz and his team have been able to jump right into action. They organize shelters for queer Ukrainians, provide food and other basic necessities, help with legal and immigration questions, and look for short term employment opportunities or school for the young ones. Vlad (photo below), a young Ukrainian currently staying at DOM EQ, told us he arrived with his family at the train station by bus. They didn't know where to go. But then Mateusz came up to them and brought them here. "They're helping us so much. They make us feel like home," he adds.
Friday, March 18:
Today we're visiting Lambda Warszawa, the oldest Polish LGBT+ organization, in Warsaw. When Miłosz and Paweł welcome us at their office, they couldn't be more excited: "We just picked up the keys to the new apartment," Miłosz says.
Since the war started, Lambda has been in emergency mode. They launched a special program fully dedicated to supporting LGBT+ Ukrainians. Thanks to the donations from All Out members, they've been able to rent a big apartment that will serve as an emergency shelter for queer Ukrainians arriving in Warsaw while they sort out long term housing.
"We're dealing with people who are facing multiple traumas. They're fleeing Ukraine, a homo- and transphobic country ravaged by war, and they arrive in Poland, another country that, while peaceful, is similarly anti-LGBT," Miłosz explains. "We're offering them a safe space where they're welcome and accepted for who they are."
Paweł and Miłosz (photo below) have put aside their personal lives to fully dedicate their time to this work. Miłosz, a German teacher, has canceled his lessons since the war started. Paweł turned down a recent job offer to be able to fully commit to his volunteer work supporting queer Ukrainians. "These people have urgent needs – my own ones are not important right now," Paweł says.
As we leave their office, one of the Lambda staff members tells us that during the time of our visit, a dozen new requests for emergency support by queer Ukrainians have come in.
We left Warsaw with mixed feelings. Seeing the inspiring work of Polish activists gave us hope. We know they're going above and beyond to provide LGBT+ Ukrainians with all the support they need. But as this war continues, much more will need to be done. They're up for the task – but they'll need to know we've got their backs.
Having seen first hand the life-saving impact All Out's support is already having in Poland, we can't thank you enough for your recent donation.
Tragically, the war continues relentlessly. We are determined to continue to get funds both to LGBT+ people inside Ukraine and to heroes like Mateusz, Miłosz and Paweł who are supporting refugees once they leave the country.
For us to plan a Ukraine response that has long-term impact, we rely on our Equality Champions – a wonderful group of All Out members who make a regular monthly gift.
Will you take the next step and become an Equality Champion today?
Thanks for going All Out,Stana and Mathias from the All Out team
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