How gay people fit into the Russia-Ukraine divide

‘We are an endlessly malleable symbol’

Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch, talks about Russia, Ukraine and how members of the gay community can become unwilling participants in an international affairs debate.

Gay rights seem to be working their way into many international debates these days. No matter what side you are on, we fit into someone’s argument. The Russia-Ukraine standoff appears to be no different.

“We are an endlessly malleable symbol,” says Graeme Reid, director of Human Rights Watch’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights program.

In the above video interview, Reid talks with Daily Xtra’s Rob Salerno about the situation in Russia and Ukraine and how the LGBT community gets dragged into international affairs.

Read More About:
Video, Power, News, Canada, Human Rights

Keep Reading

Who gets to claim parental rights?

Xtra and TVO’s Unravelled partnered on this mini-doc diving into what "parental rights" policies mean for kids and parents across Canada

Second Alberta town votes to ban Pride flags, rainbow crosswalks

Barrhead residents voted this week in favour of new “neutrality” bylaw

Xtra Explains: Parental rights

What does Canadian law actually say when it comes to the rights of parents and trans kids?

Xtra Explains: Social vs. medical transition

Media and politicians like to fixate on the medical aspects of transition. But for most trans youth, social transition plays a much bigger part in their lives