Historical, political, and social conditions in Eastern Europe have had a significant impact on queer activism, visibility, and identity formation. From the early 20th century to the present day, Eastern European countries have experienced various forms of oppression, repression, and violence against LGBTQ+ communities due to their perceived threat to traditional gender norms and values. This has led to the emergence of queer activist movements that aimed to challenge these oppressive structures and promote equality and justice for all.
These movements faced numerous challenges, such as lack of funding, state surveillance, and legal restrictions, which limited their ability to achieve their goals.
Despite these obstacles, the queer community in Eastern Europe has been able to establish itself through creative and innovative ways of expression and resistance. In addition, transnational scholarship has played an important role in providing a platform for queer voices from diverse backgrounds to be heard. Transnational scholars have studied the history, culture, politics, and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in Eastern Europe, contributing to a better understanding of their struggles and successes. These studies have highlighted the importance of intersectionality, recognizing how different identities (such as race, class, gender, and disability) intersect with sexuality and affect one's experience of oppression and liberation.
Queer activism in Eastern Europe has also been influenced by global developments, such as the rise of neoliberalism and post-socialism.
The fall of communism in Eastern Europe led to an increased focus on individualism and consumerism, which challenged the notion of collective identity and solidarity among queer people. Similarly, the growth of social media and digital technologies have enabled new forms of visibility and interaction among LGBTQ+ communities across borders.
Historical, political, and social conditions in Eastern Europe have shaped queer activism, visibility, and identity formation. By drawing on the lessons learned from transnational scholarship, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the queer community in this region and explore ways to support and empower them in their struggle for equality and justice.
How have historical, political, and social conditions in Eastern Europe shaped queer activism, visibility, and identity formation, and what lessons can inform transnational scholarship?
The study of LGBTQ+ history has focused on national boundaries that fail to take into account how political, cultural, and economic connections between countries shape identity formations (Brettell & Higonnet 2018; Brettell et al. 2017).