Yulia Familieva is a well-known Ukrainian activist, member of the Cohort NGO, senior manager of the advocacy group, and project manager of the organization’s paralegal project. In 2023, Yulia was elected as a representative of the trans* community to the National Council on Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Yulia has extensive experience in support and counseling for trans* people, assisting on a peer-to-peer basis. She is also the founder of the online resource for the transgender community “Rainbow Life – T”, which promotes information and support.
Yulia is actively working to improve tolerant attitudes towards trans people in Ukraine. Her activities also include legal protection and advocacy, particularly in the areas of equal access to healthcare and social integration of trans people.
VirusOFF had a great opportunity to talk to Yulia during Trans* Awareness Week (November 13-19—VirusOFF note) and on the eve of the National LGBTIQ+ Conference (December 5-6, 2024—VirusOFF note) to discuss the key challenges and achievements of the trans* community in Ukraine.
Yulia, can we say that the attitude towards trans* people in our country is gradually changing? How do you assess these changes in recent years compared to 3-5 years ago?
Yulia: Indeed, in recent years, we have seen important positive changes in society’s attitude towards trans* people. Awareness has increased at all levels, from the general public to professionals who work directly with trans* people – doctors, lawyers, and government officials. This gradual enlightenment of society is especially noticeable in large cities, where people are more familiar with LGBTIQ+ rights, attend educational events more often, and have more access to resources. Currently, trans* people in Ukraine can count on a higher level of understanding and perhaps even support from others than before. That is, we have a significant improvement compared to the way things were in the past, but there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of informing and raising awareness.
However, there is also a downside – there are still cases of stigmatization and discrimination. The wartime situation in which Ukraine finds itself has exacerbated some of the problems. Under conditions of stress, when people are in a psychological crisis, the risk of xenophobia increases, and trans* people, like other members of the LGBTIQ+ community, can become the object of negative attitudes. This manifests a certain societal trait: people often look for those responsible for everything “different”. Therefore, the issue of stereotypes and myths about trans* people are still relevant.
What are the main problems that remain relevant for the trans* community despite these positive developments?
Yulia: The main problems faced by trans* people in Ukraine are related to discrimination, misunderstanding, and myths, which are often fueled by the outside world or people’s lack of education. In particular, during the war, we see the emergence of new myths that only deepen the problem of stigmatization. For example, there is a misconception that members of the LGBTIQ+ community do not defend the country or are indifferent to what is happening. This is untrue because many of our people are now serving in the Armed Forces, volunteering, paying taxes, and being full members of society. Unfortunately, the reality is that people often do not see the real picture, which is much deeper and more positive.
If we imagine that the President of Ukraine is in front of us and we have the opportunity to suggest the three most important steps, what would you recommend to improve the situation of the trans* community? What needs to be done immediately?
Yulia: The first important step is to ensure the implementation of existing laws. Ukraine has fairly progressive legislation, including bylaws, concerning trans* people. But the problem is that even good laws often do not work in practice, especially now, when the Constitution is actually “on pause” due to martial law. It is important for us that, despite the circumstances, Ukraine remains a democratic state where human rights are respected, because this is what we are fighting for. The situation of trans* people would improve significantly if we had an effective implementation of the laws.
The second step is to ensure access to medical, legal, and psychological services, which are basic for every person. In the current conditions of war, trans* people face additional difficulties in accessing medical care, especially when it comes to hormone therapy or other specific services related to trans* health. Access to services should not only be on paper but also work.
The third is awareness raising and educational programs because informing society is the key to overcoming discrimination. We need government agencies, doctors, teachers, and other professionals to be aware of the characteristics of trans* people and to be able to provide a comfortable environment for all citizens.
How has the access of trans* people to medical, legal, and psychological services changed during the war? Are there any improvements in the availability of, for example, psychological assistance?
Yulia: If we talk about psychological assistance, we are seeing positive dynamics here. Due to the war, the need for psychological support has increased, and this has contributed to the increase in the number of trans*-friendly psychologists. Currently, dozens of professionals in Ukraine have experience working with trans* people, understand their needs, and can provide quality care. But when it comes to access to medical or legal services, the situation is much more complicated. Unfortunately, many government agencies and medical institutions are not yet ready to work properly with trans* people.
You mentioned the database of “friendly” specialists. How does this help trans* people?
Yulia: We, Cohort, have created a database of friendly doctors so that trans* people can easily find specialists who treat them with understanding and respect. This reduces the level of stress for trans* people, as they can receive quality support without fear of being misunderstood or denied services. This is a small but important step towards creating a more comfortable environment for trans* people.
You mentioned the importance of training doctors and specialists in the specifics of communication with trans* people. Please tell us more about your educational projects.
Yulia: We have developed educational programs, including modules for advanced training of doctors, which familiarize them with the needs of trans* people and the specifics of providing medical services to this group. For example, based on Odesa Medical University, within the framework of our project, with the support of the Alliance for Public Health, a module of potential postgraduate education for doctors was created, which includes such training. Soon, we plan to test this module We hold conferences and seminars for doctors so that they understand how to interact with trans* patients properly and not create additional stress for them.
What results would you like to see from the implementation of such educational programs?
Yulia: We want professionals to treat trans* people as professionally as any other patient and to provide care without prejudice. The goal is to reduce the number of negative situations when trans* people are afraid to go to the doctor because of possible misunderstanding or judgment.
In less than a month, the XVII National LGBTIQ+ Conference will begin. Throughout all the years of its existence, what significant achievements for the trans* community, in your opinion, have been made thanks to it?
Yulia: The conference is extremely important because it brings together representatives of the community, activists, and professionals and creates a roadmap for the LGBTIQ+ movement in Ukraine. Participants discuss important issues and formulate plans, and this contributes to better communication and new connections. The conference provides an opportunity to share experiences and help each other. The results can be seen in the numerous initiatives that help the trans* community protect their rights. This year I will also participate in the conference, namely, at a separate session I will present this year’s resolution of the Forum of Transgender and Non-Binary People of Ukraine.
Please tell us what are the main points of this resolution.
Yulia: One of the key points is the creation of an independent, democratic platform for the trans* community, which will help unite different activists and organizations. This will be a powerful resource for supporting and protecting trans* people. The resolution also calls for the introduction of a third gender marker in documents so that non-binary people can officially designate their identity. Another important aspect is the depathologization of transgenderism through the adoption of international standards, such as ICD-11 (ICD-11 – International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision – a system used by healthcare professionals to classify various diseases and conditions. It was developed by the World Health Organization and came into force on January 1, 2022, at the global level, replacing the previous version, ICD-10 – VirusOFF note). The implementation of ICD11 in Ukraine is extremely important for the trans* community because it cancels psychiatric diagnoses of transgenderism that are contained in the current ICD10, transgenderism will not be considered a mental disorder.
What role do you think the platform will play for the trans* community?
Yulia: This is an extremely important step to unite our community. The platform will create a safe space for discussing problems, supporting each other, and advocating. It will provide access to verified information and legal and psychological support.
The inclusion of a third gender marker in the documents was an important topic in the discussions of the resolution. How will this help non-binary people in Ukraine?
Yulia: The third gender marker in documents will allow non-binary people to officially recognize their identity and feel more protected at the legislative level. This is an important step in recognizing their rights and self-determination.
Yulia, what are the main goals and hopes for the trans* community in Ukraine in the coming years?
Yulia: We hope for further progress in the recognition of our rights, compliance with laws, and proper treatment. The main thing is to ensure that trans* people have the same rights as all citizens. We are working to change the attitude of society and build a Ukraine where everyone can feel free.