LGBTQ Ukrainian refugees are fleeing to Poland and Hungary, and activists say they will face particular challenges there, since the European Union has condemned both countries for having anti-gay laws.
Julia Maciocha, an activist with Warsaw Pride in Poland, said her organization was quick to help refugees because it wanted to protect them from potential discrimination.We don't want them to be kept in refugee camps or in big buildings or huge places where they are not safe because of course homophobia is still existing in Poland. We want to make sure they're placed with people who understand their needs," she said.
Aaron Morris, from the U.S.-based, LGBTQ-rights group Immigration Equality, said this is a pattern he's seen too many times before. LGBTQ refugees fleeing from Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan and Central America historically have been victims of attacks and discrimination.