How war can catalyse positive change for LGBT rights: the discursive construction of LGBT equality as a national identity issue in Ukraine (2022-2024)

Abstract

War is usually seen as a setback for human rights, reinforcing traditional gender roles and excluding minorities. However, in Ukraine, Russia’s full-scale invasion has produced an unexpected effect: Ukrainians demonstrate higher levels of acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people, challenging conventional assumptions about nationalism and war. This thesis examines how wartime nationalism, rather than marginalising, has opened discursive space for LGBTIQ+ inclusion. Drawing on critical discourse analysis of 210 media articles and publications of civil society organisations (2022–2023), it identifies three key dynamics: the visibility of LGBTIQ+ soldiers challenging stereotypes and fostering public support; the rejection of Russian state homophobia, which casts inclusivity as a marker of Ukrainian difference; and the alignment of LGBTIQ+ equality with the postwar recovery of Ukraine as a democratic European state committed to human rights. In this way, the war has acted as a catalyst for reimagining national identity more inclusively. By studying Ukraine’s case, the study challenges dominant theories linking war, nationalism, and exclusion. It demonstrates how war can generate discursive opportunities for progressive change, offering insights relevant for Ukraine’s postwar future and for understanding resistance to Russian imperialism in Ukraine.