New Stories from Eastern Queerope
More stories about queer personalities and culture of Eastern and Central Europe
15 March 2025
Polish-Belarusian authors Adam Mickiewicz (on the left) and Jan Czeczot (on the right)
Hi! We are Eastern Queerope. And we tell stories of those who were lacking remembrance acknowledgment. Sometimes unintentionally, but more often purposefully. LGBTQ+ people from Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine were remarkable writers, famous doctors, and political activists.
How queer people were persecuted in the USSR? What wonderful queer writers from Belarus and Ukraine are not currently being studied in schools? How was the drag scene in the ‘90s in Poland? We will try to answer these questions.
Our team are 3 non-binary activists and journalists from Belarus and Poland.
Today’s information is very limited, but we will try our best to be as unbiased and accurate as possible. We hope to open a historic discussion on the topic, so feel free to criticize and give us your feedback.
The first series of Eastern Queerope publications is available here.
Eastern Europe has a wide LGBTQ+ history. It was just hidden from your sight.
Poland’s raw queer 90’s – part 2
The first Belarusian Queer Pride
Letters of Mickiewicz and Czeczot
Agnieszka Kuśnierczanka
Queerstory of Eastern Europe. A Reading List Part 2
Károly Kertbeny
How They Were Flirting: Polish Lesbian Love Letters from the 19th Century
LGBTQ+ Activism in Late Soviet Czechia
The Worst Eastern European Countries for LGBTQI+. ILGA Europe Report
Ion Negoițescu
Queer Art in Belarusian McDonald’s
Piotr Odmieniec Włast
Read more articles from the Issue
Nothing Found
Queer Fronts
Published on Kontext Wochenzeitung
Alice Weidel resolves the paradox of being a chairwoman of the queer-hostile AfD by distinguishing between ‘homosexual’ and ‘queer’. Divisions are also opening up within the queer community.
Moving Stories: LGBTQI Ukrainian Refugees
Published on Oko.press
A review of six in-depth interviews with people who left Ukraine because of the war
Beyond the Binary
Published on Blog der Republik
On trans*, genderqueer and lesbian identities in Poland and Germany from 19th century to present day
Queer Rights and Marriage Equality Under War, Authoritarianism, and Democracy
Published on Gender in Detail
Why has the institution of marriage become a key tool in the struggle for equal rights? A study of Ukraine, Belarus, and Estonia, three countries with radically different approaches
Gaps in Remembrance – Queer Biographies during National Socialism
Published on freie-radios.net
Queer survivors of Nazi persecution could not speak openly about their experiences due to ongoing state oppression. This German-language audio piece is a search for clues.
Queer and Trans People Have Always Been Here. These Are Their Stories
Published on Oko.press, Siegessäule
How do the past biographies connect with the experiences of trans people today?
The Prisoners with the Pink Triangle
Published on Publik-Forum, Deutschlandfunk Kultur
Among the millions of people murdered by the Nazi regime were thousands of gay men. For a long time, there was no commemoration of them or other queer victims.
Queerly Beloved: Romani and Sinti Resistance Through the Ages
Published on taz
Six podcast episodes explore the history of the Roma and Sinti with a focus on activism, resistance, and the fight for equality and justice.
Intertwined Queer Stories: First LGBTIQ+ Museum in Eastern Europe
Published on taz
The QueerMuzeum has opened in Warsaw. It tells of pride, joy and sex, but also of stigmatisation and persecution.
“The Smaller the Settlement, the Greater the Influence of Religion”: Belarusian Trans Non-Binary Activist in Poland
Published on Nash Vybir
Ray shares its journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance and struggle for queer rights
Queer Holocaust Voices – the Price of Silence
Published on Hukanne
Queer voices were systematically erased from Holocaust history for decades. Their rediscovered stories reveal a complex reality of persecution, resilience, and the steep price of historical silence.
Forgotten Stories of Eastern European Queer Heroes
Published on Instagram
Stories of people who were lacking remembrance and acknowledgment. Sometimes unintentionally, but more often purposefully.
“I Accept Myself with All My Features”: Ukrainian Queer Person and Her Identity in Catholic Poland
Published on Nash Vybir
Natalia's story presents a different, more down-to-earth perspective on queer Ukrainians in Poland.
Belarusian on Bisexuality, Theatre and Emigration
Published on Das.Hip
A documentary short about Palina, an actress, director, and singer from Minsk, Belarus.
Shelters, Help and Support: How Uzhhorod Became a New Home for Queer People
Published on Hromadske
When the full-scale war began, Uzhhorod became a critical hub offering displaced queer Ukrainians both emergency shelter and ongoing support services that continue transforming lives today.
Diversity in Brandenburg: Queers Take a Stand
Published on taz
A memorial for gay prisoners murdered in Sachsenhausen coincided with a Pride in nearby Oranienburg, uniting commemoration with celebration of present-day queer life.
Being Yourself. How Kharkiv’s LGBTQI Community Fights for Their Rights
Published on Hromadske
A report on queer representation in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, on Prides and aid in times of war
Queer in One of Most Catholic Countries in Europe: Stimulus or Hindrance?
Published on Nash Vybir
Stereotypes suggest that Catholicism complicates the presence and activities of queer movements in Poland. Is this truly the case?
How Queer People Live in Frontline City: Report from Zaporizhzhia
Published on Hromadske
Zaporizhzhia's queer community navigates war while building resilience through mutual support and advocacy, just 50 kilometers from the frontlines.