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Treasure Island Media has set up a line of merchandise that includes hoodies and T-shirts, where all profits go toward supporting LGBTQ+ soldiers.
Porn studio Treasure Island Media has started a line of merchandise called Designed in Battle with 100 percent of profits going toward queer Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of Ukraine's war with Russia after Russia invaded the nation in February.
The merchandise, including hoodies and T-shirts, is inspired by a group called the Achilles Brotherhood in Ukraine's military, according to a press release.
The group said that queer Ukrainian soldiers wear a symbol of a unicorn to recognize each other, and Treasure Island Media has used the symbol to develop the merchandise.
"The unicorn, in heraldic books, is likened to a brave soldier. The red half of the design incorporates a trident (the national symbol of Ukraine), red fire (a symbol of the threat the soldiers pose to their enemies), and a fire sword (a symbol of the military). The color white symbolizes the nobility of the soldiers," the company explained.
Profits from merchandise sales will go to the Achilles Brotherhood to help purchase medical supplies and other items such as clothing and boots for the military members.
"These brave gay men are not just battling for the freedom of their country. They're also in a fight to the death against a homophobic regime for the right to live freely as men who love men," a spokesperson for Treasure Island Media said in the release. "On that front, they fight for all of us -- and they need our support. By wearing this gear, you can support these gay heroes and help make a difference to their fight for survival."
In an email to The Advocate, Treasure Island Media said that the idea for the merchandise came after realizing LGBTQ+ soldiers are not only fighting against the Russian invasion but also for their rights in the country and against Russia's anti-LGBTQ+ government.
"It became clear to us that these [people] are in desperate need of our help. And as a community, they are fighting on behalf of LGBT+ people everywhere. This is the least we can do to show them our support," the company said.
Viktor Pylypenko, a Ukrainian LGBTQ+ activist and soldier, told Treasure Island Media earlier this year that there are additional concerns by queer people over Russia's treatment of LGBTQ+ people.
"I am an LGBT activist in the military," Pylypenko told the company. "They can arrest my parents, torture them or kill them. So, I am really afraid for my parents and I am trying to convince them they should leave but they don't want to.
He added, "I'm afraid of captivity. If they capture me, I will be tortured and killed in a very brutal manner ... there will be no mercy."
Check out Treasure Island's merchandise supporting LGBTQ+ Ukrainian soldiers at the porn studio's online store.
