The Queer Face of War: Portraits and Stories from Ukraine

The experiences of queer people in times of war have been largely invisible. Portraits like those collected in this book are rare because most recent conflicts have been fought in places where coming out is dangerous. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine is different: queer people have become a visible part of the war effort, continuing the fight for their rights while also fighting for their country.

In Ukraine, queer freedom and the defense of democracy are deeply intertwined. Russian President Vladimir Putin has partially framed the war as a battle to protect “traditional values,” thus turning this conflict into a first war in which a global superpower invades its neighbor with the explicit goal of reversing LGBTQ+ rights.

The award-winning photographer and journalist J. Lester Feder sample the queer face of war in this extraordinary collection of striking portraits and moving profiles.