Interview with Anastasiia Sypalo: How positive coming-out stories are changing society's perception
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Anastasiia Sypalo, a participant in the Equality, Leadership, and Future initiative for youth, the regional coordinator for the Insight public organization in Ternopil, and an advocate for LGBTI+ issues. Photo: courtesy of NGO Girls
As part of the Equality, Leadership, and Future initiative for youth, participants are actively developing their advocacy campaigns that highlight important social issues. One such initiative is the Color of Acceptance campaign, which focuses on coming out and emphasizes the importance of support from others. We spoke with Anastasiia Sypalo, the campaign's author, regional coordinator of the Insight public organization in Ternopil, and a public activist on LGBTI+ issues. She shared how the idea for this campaign was conceived and what motivates her to promote it.
How did the concept for the Color of Acceptance campaign originate? Is there a personal story or experience that influenced your understanding of the issue at its core? Perhaps this story became the motivation for its creation?
These questions are deeply personal for me. Coming out has always been a sensitive topic. I'm not ready to come out to my family, even though I believe they would accept me. However, I still have some fear. I'm interested in hearing how others have navigated this experience, especially the positive stories. I want to understand both perspectives: what it's like to come out and what it’s like to be the person who offers acceptance.
What is the significance of the name “The Color of Acceptance”? What objectives does the campaign aim to achieve?
Initially, we considered a rainbow-colored theme due to its strong association with the queer community. However, we wanted to steer clear of clichés. During our brainstorming sessions, we came up with the name "The Color of Acceptance." This title conveys the idea that every act of acceptance has its own unique shade and depth, much like the colors of a rainbow.
Our goal is to highlight different coming-out stories, particularly those with positive experiences. We aim to focus on the perspectives of those who provide acceptance, such as parents, friends, and relatives. These stories are often overlooked, yet they are just as important.
We want to demonstrate how to support a loved one during their coming out without causing harm to either party. Even individuals who may hold homophobic views can learn to respond calmly and respectfully. We hope that this campaign will illustrate that sometimes, simply accepting what one hears without judgment can be a profound act of support.
Who is the target audience for this campaign, and what is its primary message?
This campaign targets individuals who are unsure about coming out, as well as those who may witness someone else coming out, including family, friends, and colleagues. We can never predict who might come out to us tomorrow, which is why it's essential to be ready to respond with respect, regardless of your own experiences. We are conducting interviews, organizing photo shoots, and preparing for a photo exhibition. Additionally, we are developing informational and educational materials. The exhibitions will take place in three cities: Chernivtsi, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia. We aim to make the opening events interactive, featuring presentations, discussions, and potentially educational lectures.
How does the campaign help to overcome societal prejudices not only about LGBTI+ individuals, but also regarding “correct” or “acceptable” gender expression?
I believe that showcasing a variety of stories and experiences related to sexual orientation and gender identity demonstrates that these aspects are prevalent and normal in our lives. We need to be prepared for and aware of this diversity as it is part of our daily existence. Campaigns like this help to break down the prejudices that still exist in society. I hope that my campaign will contribute to this important process.
Why do you think positive stories have the power to change public opinion, whereas high-profile scandals do not?
We have already witnessed many high-profile scandals and tragic stories, where individuals were evicted from their homes or faced rejection from society or their work teams. Unfortunately, these incidents, while stirring emotions and sparking discussions, have not led to the deeper changes we need. I want to shift the focus slightly and demonstrate that we can also draw attention to this topic through positive examples—stories of acceptance, support, and understanding. Our goal should be to ensure that every coming-out experience or any story related to identity disclosure is met with acceptance and safety. You can find such stories on our Instagram page.
This publication has been developed within the Equality.Leadership.Future initiative implemented by NGO Girls within the framework of the UN Women’s project "Women's Increased Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies" funded by the Government of Denmark, as well as the project “Transformational Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine" implemented with financial support from the Government of Sweden and in cooperation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and in partnerships with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. Financial support for the initiative is also provided by the UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF).