Yulia Familieva is one of the most prominent trans* activists in Ukraine. The VirusOFF media platform had the honor of speaking with her last year. Since then, her life has undergone significant changes: new challenges, new initiatives, new experiences. Today, we continue our dialogue with Yulia about her work within the VirusOFF emergency aid project funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, the realities of life for the trans* community during the full-scale war, and personal growth that goes hand in hand with community activism.
— Yulia, 2025 has brought significant changes to your work. How has this impacted your motivation and priorities?
This year, I changed jobs — I now work at “Partner” NGO, a service-oriented organization operating since 2016. It has a center in Odesa and branches in Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson. I currently coordinate HIV prevention for the trans* community. This is specialized support because the community requires an inclusive approach. I’ve always been interested in trying myself in the service sector. Previously, I worked in advocacy and mobilization — what we called “entry points” to HIV prevention and treatment programs. But I didn’t know how these worked in practice. Now, after six months, I see the entire process — from advocacy and mobilization to services and back. This is incredibly valuable because I can now fully see how advocacy influences services and how services, in turn, shape advocacy.
— The principle of “peer-to-peer” comes up often. What’s its real strength? How does it work in practice?
It’s a key method of engaging with trans* people. Our community is very closed off — often socially anxious, sometimes even socially avoidant. People usually only open up to someone who is “a peer.” In this format, it’s easier to discuss problems and guide people to services. Often, when people turn to hotlines, professionals, or consultants, they encounter such negative experiences that they want to turn around and leave. And it’s not about minor things, but basic principles: how to address a person, which pronouns to use, what not to say — for example, avoiding incorrect pronouns or using someone’s “deadname” (deadnaming is using the name given to a trans* person at birth, even if it still appears in documents — VirusOFF note). This is especially important when working with non-binary people — language matters.
Our consultants come from the community. They understand these nuances and know how to speak properly. And social workers who are not part of the trans* community but work with individuals after an initial consultation are also trained to be mindful of this. The worst outcome is to turn someone away at the first point of contact. Because then they’ll share that negative experience, which pushes the community even further into isolation.
— You’re involved in several areas at once. How do you manage to maintain balance?
At first, I tried to do everything myself. I thought no one could do it better. But over time, you realize that one person can’t carry everything. There are volunteers, colleagues, and allies around you. You just need to learn to trust. Find people you can rely on. Teamwork is the only way to achieve something big.
— How did you join the VirusOFF emergency aid project supported by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action?
I’ve known Oksana Dobroskok (project manager — VirusOFF note) and Armen Aghajanov (VirusOFF board member — VirusOFF note) for a long time. We had already worked together — for example, we were on the organizing committee of the national LGBTQI+ conference. When there was a need to engage our community in the project, they reached out to me. I agreed without hesitation because it was a meaningful initiative.
Back in 2022, there were many internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the trans* community in Odesa — from Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk region. We opened a shelter for them. People needed help — medications (especially hormone therapy), food, hygiene products, and sometimes financial support for urgent needs.
— Is the shelter still operating?
No, unfortunately, we had to close it due to the end of funding. But on the other hand, that’s a good sign. The people who lived there were able to find work, housing, and start new lives. Over two and a half years, we provided shelter to about a hundred people. Some stayed for a few days, others for months. They were IDPs, victims of violence, and people in crisis.
Now we’re thinking about a new format — a community center with short-term shelter capabilities. But the focus will be on education, vocational guidance, and community networking, not just housing.
— Have the needs of the trans* community changed over the years?*
Yes. In 2022, everyone was in a panic. They needed a roof over their heads and food. In 2023–2024, there were more requests for household items: pots, electric kettles, and power banks. Today, people are thinking about the future. They want more than just survival — they want to build a life: find jobs, professions, and become independent. That’s very important. Humanitarian aid is a temporary solution. People don’t want to live with an outstretched hand forever.
— Looking at the VirusOFF emergency aid project, in your opinion, how can such humanitarian initiatives better meet community needs?
The main thing is adapting to specific communities. For trans* people, the biggest issue is access to medical care. Hormone therapy, check-ups, endocrinologist support — this is almost nonexistent in the national health package. We try to cover it with project funds, but resources are limited. People may manage to find food, but lab tests and hormones? No. It’s not a whim, it’s a vital need. And we’ll continue advocating for these services to be included in state programs. It’s a basic right to health and dignity.
— And what about trans* community “visibility”? Has the community heard now?*
Not yet. The community remains closed. Activists try to raise awareness, but society’s attention is elsewhere — war, the frontlines, losses. So, change is slow. Public visibility isn’t the priority right now. And many in the community still aren’t ready to be open.
— You represent the trans* community in the National HIV/TB Council. Are there any positive changes at the state policy level?
Yes, and that’s very important. The Ministry of Health issued an order to transition to ICD-11 in 2027. One of the key aspects of this for trans* people is the removal of the pathologizing psychiatric diagnosis F64.0 “Transsexualism.” In other words, being transgender will no longer be classified as a psychiatric disorder. That’s a huge step forward.
There’s also a draft law in Parliament on hate speech and the inadmissibility of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI — VirusOFF note), as well as a renewed civil partnership bill in the works. Representatives of key communities and proactive parts of society strongly support these progressive changes.
Most often, when we face a misunderstanding, the argument we hear is: “Why do you need this? I don’t get it.” But we’re not asking for understanding — we’re asking for acceptance. Just because you don’t need something doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t. A tolerant society is one whose members can recognize that.
VirusOFF believes that only through solidarity, mutual support, and understanding of every individual can we build a truly just and inclusive society — one where everyone has the chance to live with dignity and freedom.
This material was prepared as part of the VirusOFF emergency aid project funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action. The project has been active since March 2022 and provides emergency humanitarian and social support through the VirusOFF platform to members of key populations affected by HIV, as well as to local organizations. To date, over 1,500 individuals from these communities have received assistance through the project.