Responsible Representation of LGBTQI+ People in Documentary Storytelling

Context

The workplace is a space where people spend a significant part of their lives, yet for many LGBTQI+ people it remains unsafe. Fear of stigma, prejudice, and losing one’s job forces people to hide their identity, which directly affects mental health, burnout, and professional fulfillment. Suspilne chose a documentary format to address this issue without sensationalism or dramatization — through real lived experience.

What was done

Suspilne produced the short documentary “Vacancy: Human”, which explores the experiences of LGBTQI+ people at work. The film is built around the stories of two protagonists, Katya and Demian, who openly speak about fear, silence, pressure, and their path toward acceptance in a professional environment.

The documentary is supplemented by expert commentary and statistical context. According to the NGO Tochka Opory UA, 37 out of 40 surveyed LGBTQI+ people conceal their identity at work due to fear of changes in attitudes from colleagues and management. The protagonists’ personal stories become an argument for openness as a factor that can reduce burnout and strengthen team resilience.

How it was implemented

• The film was produced in partnership with the NGO Tochka Opory UA.
• Safe participation conditions and a trauma-sensitive approach were ensured for the protagonists during filming.
• The documentary uses the metaphor of a shared painting as a symbol of acceptance and coexistence within a team.
• After its release, the film was presented at two job fairs as a starting point for discussions on inclusive recruitment and workplace culture.

“It was crucial for us not to ‘speak about’ people, but to give them the opportunity to speak in the first person — without translating their experience for someone else,” says Anastasiia Hudyma, Director of the Department for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunities at Suspilne Broadcasting and a member of the editorial board.

Impact

• After the release, the team received dozens of responses from LGBTQI+ people who said it was the first time they had seen a non-stereotypical and non-demeaning representation of their experience in Ukrainian media.
• Some viewers admitted that after watching the film they felt encouraged to apply for jobs at Suspilne; several of them now work in different divisions of the media group. This demonstrated that responsible representation can influence not only audience trust but also a media organization’s ability to attract new professionals and foster a safer internal culture.
• The film’s protagonist Katya began speaking openly about her identity after participating in the project and now conducts trainings on leadership and acceptance.
• On social media, the film received hundreds of supportive comments with no documented negative reactions.
• “Vacancy: Human” won second place at the 5th International Television Festival “Heart of Europe” in the category Short Documentary Film (Warsaw).

What other newsrooms can learn

• Give voice to vulnerable groups without reducing their experiences solely to trauma.
• Collaborate with relevant civil society organizations according to the principle “Nothing about us without us.”
• Use documentary storytelling as a tool for changing attitudes and professional practices — not only to inform audiences but also to influence newsroom culture and the labor market.