Queer people’s experiences of war have largely been invisible. Portraits like the ones in this book are rare because most recent wars have been fought in places where it is generally unsafe for queer people to come out. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is different: Queer people have become a visible part of the war effort, continuing to fight for their rights as they join the fight for their country.

Queer freedom and the fight for democracy are deeply entwined in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has partly framed the war as a battle to protect “traditional values,” making this the first war in which a global superpower has invaded its neighbour with the explicit goal of rolling back LGBTQ rights. Award-winning photographer and journalist J. Lester Feder shows us The Queer Face of War in this remarkable collection of stunning portraits and moving profiles.