Uncovering the forgotten stories of early LGBT activism.

Creative direction, exhibition, activism.

A few words about the exhibition.

Love and freedom to express love have always been among the most fundamental human needs, essential to build a happy and meaningful life. Yet, we can still encounter public opinions that perceive queer people as outsiders that have no place in our history. When people argue that homosexuality and the LGBT movement are trends "that were born in Western Europe," it’s no surprise - our history textbooks contain no mentions of homosexuality in our region.

What were the obstacles faced by men who loved men and women who loved women in the past? Were they able to find love in a time when society denied their human nature? Who were the first people in Czechoslovakia and Hungary who decided to fight “an ethical fight” for their dignity and right to self-identification?

This exhibition reveals the unknown stories of forbidden love over the past hundred years that still have a lot to teach us today.

Photography: @jakubkovacart

A simulated interrogation room with authentic commentary from an early activist.

A voice reading the notes of Imrich Matyáš describing a long and humiliating interrogation on his sexuality guides visitors through this unpleasant experience.

And this is why we do it.

If I knew something like this was happening when I was twelve, I'd be much more relieved at that time. Thank you. Nina.

Though we didn't see Ru at the exhibiton we like to believe she was there.

A limited collection of merchandise to support the cause.

Two printed illustrations based on historic photos and minimalist apparel featuring an embroidered gradient loading bar.

Bratislava

11. 9. - 15. 10. 2020
Nová Cvernovka

|

Prague

Budapest

Belgrade

Super special thanks to this wonderful team

Authors:

Jana Jablonická-Zezulová
Eugen Korda

Project warrants:

Róbert Pakan
Andrej Kuruc
Péter Hanzli
Marie Janoušková 

Authors of research papers: 

Jan Seidl
Judit Takács 
Jana Jablonická-Zezulová 

Art direction: 

Eugen Korda

Production and project management: 

Nikola Tokárová
Róbert Pakan

Revisions and translations:

Pali Jablonický 
Sára Činčurová 

Image documentation sources:

Arcanum, ba.foxy archive, archives of Jaromír Břoušek, archives of: Háttér, Iniciatíva Inakosť, Společnost pro queer paměť, Jana Jablonická-Zezulová,  Jan Seidl, Judit Erzsébet Szabó, Gábor Takács-Bencze, Judit Takács, Zoltán Tölgyesy, TASR, wikimedia.org