Eastern European LGBTQ Collection

Following a decades-long tradition of collecting rare and important ephemera materials for the academic and research communities across the globe, East View has put together a unique collection of ephemera materials documenting LGBTQ movements in several Eastern European countries.

With the resurgence of conservative political activism in Eastern Europe, which embraces and emphasizes traditionalist social, sexual, and gender norms, LGBTQ persons and LGBTQ activism are largely rejected and repudiated for undermining national values and social cohesion. Although there have been advances in legal protections accorded to LGBTQ persons, a far cry from the Cold War era, their presence and visibility in the public space remains broadly misunderstood, mischaracterized, and vigorously contested.

The present collection of ephemera, (brochures, clothing items, booklets, flyers, etc.) offers important insights into LGBTQ activism in Eastern Europe and the Balkans in the past decade.