Queer Is Not Yet Lost!: The Rise of Queer History in Poland: What We’ve Done, Where We Are, What Is Coming?

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Brief Description

In the recent years Poland has witnessed an upsurge of queer histories, both in academic and popular circles. Despite the political context for conducting queer history research being increasingly hostile, new and exciting research perspectives have arisen. In 2024, the first Queer History Museum is set to open in Warsaw, marking a new phase in the memorialization of queer past and provoking questions about the future directions of research. In this roundtable, we want to reflect on the current state of scholarship on queer history in modern Poland. Drawing on interdisciplinary expertise, the roundtable seeks to connect different methodological approaches and draw connections across chronological divides to discuss the past, present and future of queer history in Poland. Focusing both on research and teaching practice, the roundtable will inquire into ways in which queer theory can help to move forward not only the research on the LGBTQ+ past, but also complicate our understanding of other processes in Polish and East Central European history.

Given our desire to discuss the state of the field and future directions in queer studies in Poland, a roundtable is more suitable than a traditional panel. The open-ended nature of a roundtable, which encourages audience participation, will allow for a more robust discussion and give us all the opportunity to consider the future of this subfield in more meaningful ways. Since the speakers represent various fields (with experts in history, literature, and sociology), this will encourage an interdisciplinary approach and discussion best suited for a roundtable.

Sub Unit

• Gender/LGBTQ Studies

Chair

• Keely Stauter-Halsted, U of Illinois at Chicago

Roundtable Members

• Anna Dobrowolska, U of Basel (Switzerland)

• Anna Dżabagina, U of Warsaw (Poland)

• Kamil Marcin Karczewski, U of London (UK) / U of Warsaw (Poland)

• Michał J Wilczewski, Northwestern U