History Unit: Reframing Queer Narratives in Media

Propaganda and violence against LGBTIQ+ people is on the rise, and the media play a key role in the spread of homophobic and transphobic narratives, helping determine which perspectives are represented in the public debate. “History Unit: Reframing Queer Narratives in Media” addresses this responsibility of the media in the context of the persecution of queer people under National Socialism, as well as in today’s political realities. Our aim is to enrich the public discourse with historical perspectives and to get the mainstream media to unequivocally condemn any kind of queer-hostile rhetoric.

Participants and activities

History Unit is developed for media professionals and activists from Belarus, Germany, Poland and Ukraine willing to research the responsibility of the media in the spread of homophobic and transphobic narratives. The project will bring them together for:

1. International workshops devoted to the persecution of queer people under National Socialism and in contemporary contexts. Potential activities include visits to former concentration camps, discussions with historians, meetings with contemporary witnesses.

2. Joint journalistic projects produced after each workshop.

3. Public events.

The participants of History Unit will be able to explore topics and publish stories that find little space in the traditional media, e.g. homophobia, discrimination, queer history. We will work to create an intersectional network of media professionals and activists, memorial specialists and experts, to aid knowledge exchange and collaboration during the project and going forward.

This page will be updated with news and announcements as History Unit progresses. We will also post updates and open calls on social media: add Unit on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter. 

Partners

n-ost is developing and carrying out History Unit together with its cooperation partners:

• Human Constanta is a human rights organisation from Belarus founded in 2016. Its work is based on three pillars: analysis, educational programmes and advocacy/lobbying, and is focused on three main areas: digital rights and freedoms, rights of foreigners and stateless persons, anti-discrimination and human rights education.

• Autonomy Foundation (Fundacja Autonomia) is a Polish non-governmental, non-partisan organisation that was founded in 2007. It primarily supports women and queer people in countering discrimination, repression and violence through empowerment work, critical thinking and media skills. Fundacja Autonomia was a cooperation partner in the project until September 2024.