Sarah is an American journalist who came to Ukraine in 2022 to cover Russian aggression.

She joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic and was wounded on the front lines. Recently, she became the official representative of Ukraine’s defense forces and started several media projects for English-speaking audiences in the US and Europe.

Sarah is a transgender woman who transitioned about four years ago. Despite her active pro-Ukrainian stance, she experiences transphobia and discrimination in Ukraine, where there is still insufficient protection of LGBTI rights and the trans* community in particular. To a large extent, pro-Russian forces and media provoke hate speech and insults toward the spokesperson.

However, Sarah is not giving up and continues to inform the world about the situation in Ukraine, debunk Russian fakes and propaganda, and provide examples of existing tolerance in Ukrainian society. She receives support from Ukrainian activists, human rights defenders, and politicians who value her professionalism and will.

As noted by Svyatoslav Sheremet, an expert of the National LGBTI Consortium and leader of the NGO “Gay Forum of Ukraine,” the presence of a professional English-speaking spokesperson from the LGBTI community in Ukraine is a message in itself: “Ukraine values diversity, Ukraine understands human rights, Ukraine has the political will to overcome transphobic prejudices.”

At the same time, Sheremet called on all Ukrainian society to reach the point where the imbalance of “gender or sexuality” politically lost its significance; and to choose in favor of a state attitude that guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination for all.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo is not only a transgender woman but also a brave fighter, a talented journalist, and a loyal friend of Ukraine. She deserves respect, as do all who defend Ukraine at this crucial time for us.