While queer histories have been increasingly studied in Western contexts, gender and sexual diversity in East Central Europe remain underexplored, often marginalized by dominant national narratives and shaped by intersecting forces of ideology, repression, and resistance. This event aims to amplify research on the experiences, identities, and activism of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities within the historical and political landscapes of East Central Europe. We wish to examine queer lives and identities in relation to broader socio-political transformations in East Central Europe.
This conference aims to move beyond national frameworks and engage with the fluidity, hybridity, and interconnectedness of queer histories, emphasizing intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches. The meeting will serve as an initial platform for participants to conceptualize their research papers. A follow-up event, organized in partnership with the Herder Institute, the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University, and DHI in Prague or Warsaw, will provide an opportunity to present developed papers and contextualize them alongside additional contributions. The outcome of these two events will be a special issue edited by Dr. Jaromír Mrňka and Dr. Denisa Nešťáková.
The event is a cooperation of the Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe, Institute of the Leibniz Association, in collaboration with the Max Weber Foundation, the German Historical Institute Warsaw (DHIW), and its Prague Branch, and the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University in Prague.
CONFERENCE
Queer Histories of East Central Europe in the 20th Century
26–27 August 2025 | Herder Institute, Marburg, Germany
