Palina is a Belarusian actress, director, and singer from Minsk. She has been through double emigration and now lives in Warsaw with her non-binary wife, Kasper. In this short, Polina talks homophobia, sexism in the theatre, and attitudes towards Belarusian actors and actresses.
Director — Cristina Grekova | @umkadv
Producer — Cristina Grekova
Editor — Ian Sinichenko | @that__ian
DOP — Alex Skidan | @alexskidan
Sound Post-Production — Pavel Kirpikau | @stereobeaver
Palina: @chornabrova.rc
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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?
New Stories from Eastern Queerope
Published on Instagram
More stories about queer personalities and culture of Eastern and Central Europe
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.
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.
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.
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.