I agree with you somewhat. But Poland has offered no such analysis, then deflected with the topic of the Donbas. I posed that question to him because I found using the suffering of the Donbas as a cover and justification was vile.

And who is “we” in this situation? Despite having travelled and lived between America and Russia, along with some of the west I do not identify with that. I am Belarusian by blood and have lived in Russia for years. That’s why I despise this, and now fear for my life. I have already faced hate crimes and discrimination, and been disowned by much of my family for being LGBT.

I cannot support this country and risk my life for the “hope” it’ll get better after the war.

This isn’t the example of the Middle East, lgbt acceptance used to be much higher during the Union years, peaking in the 70’s and early 80’s, with the collapse of the Union this changed. Putin’s government has only made it worse by using the community as a scapegoat. Rates of suicide, depression, lgbt people fleeing the country have all skyrocketed in the community. It has been made purposefully difficult to get treatment for HIV/AIDS, and lgbt people are treated like sex offenders.

Why should I support this? It’s difficult to march forward in support of the Donbass when my own life is put in extreme risk.