Hostile school environment and no government partnership with civil society: -5/10 | There is no evidence of the government providing funding or working in partnership with civil society: 0/10 | The government provides funding and works in partnership with civil society to promote inclusive education for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10
The social climate for LGBTQI youth is generally not favourable, as LGBTQI issues are seen as controversial within education settings. The repeated attempts to introduce an anti-propaganda law have sparked public debates in mainstream media that often employed hateful narratives.
Discrimination and violence against LGBTQI people remains common in Ukraine and politicians routinely speak about LGBTQI people in a hateful manner. In 2018, the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity carried out a country visit to Ukraine and found a lack of implementation of protective laws, stigma, discrimination, and a lack of positive political leadership on SOGIGESC issues.
A 2021 survey found that 80% of LGBT students feel unsafe in school and 87% feel excluded. In the month preceding the survey, 40% of LGBT students missed school because they feared for their safety. 70% of LGBT students heard anti-LGBT remarks made against them and two-thirds of them were also targeted by teachers. 55% said they had not a single adult in school they could turn to for support.
A series of online studies conducted in Ukraine between 2017 and 2023 by organisations such as "Fulcrum UA" NGO and the parental initiative "TERGO" revealed persistent challenges faced by LGBTQI+ teenagers in schools. The latest survey of 2023, which included nearly 900 respondents in Ukraine and those displaced abroad, showed that almost 80% of LGBTQI students do not feel safe at school due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or appearance. About 30% reported experiencing physical or verbal violence, while over 70% encountered homophobic and transphobic remarks, not only from peers but also from teachers and school administrators. Additionally, 46% of respondents reported feeling unsafe in their own homes, highlighting the lack of support from family members.
More than 60% of LGBTQI teens stated they had no trusted adult to confide in about bullying at school, and over 50% chose not to report incidents due to fear of inaction or past negative experiences, many were advised to "not provoke the bully" or to "ignore it." The hostile environment in schools has significant mental health consequences as demonstrated by the fact that LGBTQI students are more likely to skip classes, suffer from low self-esteem, increased anxiety, and are at a higher risk of depression and suicidal thoughts than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. The study also found that students with at least one supportive adult at school reported better psychological well-being and a stronger sense of belonging.
In 2024 Nash Svit reported two cases of discrimination on SOGIGESC grounds in education. One case involved the lowering of grades and prejudice against a student by teachers. The other case involved a teacher being forced to resign and facing interference with their private life and disclosure of confidential information by the director of the educational institution.
Ukrainian schools can provide or host extracurricular activities or youth clubs on their own initiative.
The government does not provide funding, nor does it actively work in partnership with NGOs in relation to LGBTQI inclusive education.
