Contemporary Polish LGBTQ Resistance: Activism through Performance

• In Event: In the Margins of Memory: Gender and Historical Narratives in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

In Poland, gender and sexuality have been politicized by hard-right actors, leading to anti-LGBTQ policies such as “LGBT-free zones” and a near-total abortion ban. In response, a network of queer artists and activists, including performers and galleries, use creative expression to challenge this rhetoric and increase LGBTQ visibility. This paper focuses on case studies of queer performance in Poland from 2024-2025 that reflect the diversity and versatility of ongoing queer opposition, and engage in unique forms of activism through creativity.

Author

• Sofia Bachman, Ohio State U