Research Description

LGBTQ Expressions in Eastern Europe: A New Look

LGBTQ identities in Eastern Europe is an area of study that has been understudied academically, for a variety of reasons. This is unfortunate because Eastern Europe is host to a unique and dynamic history that has greatly affected the trajectory of the cultures and people within it. This history strongly affects the lives of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) individuals within the region and their Western counterparts. In previous studies, researchers approached homosexuality in Eastern Europe with Western models of what it means to be LGBTQ. While comparative reports provide important information on the lives of LGBTQ individuals around the world, very few take into account how the history or socio-cultural dynamics of a region can create completely different expressions of homosexuality. I will be studying how the historical and cultural effects of Soviet rule set Eastern Europe apart from the rest of the world and in turn, their LGBTQ community. I expect that I will find communities and individuals who hold more importance in nationalistic and cultural identities and have found ways to integrate their LGBTQ identities into their daily lives given the circumstances of their situation. My research will be based on a combination of archival work, a selection of contemporary research and interviews with actual LGBTQ individuals living in Russia and those who have emigrated abroad. My guiding research questions will focus on understanding how LGBTQ individuals are living their lives and what factors heavily influence the expressions of their identities. I hope that my research will show that there is an active LGBTQ culture in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe and in what ways it differs from that of the West, and I also hope that my research will draw further attention to this area of study.