1. LGBTQ+ Activism and the Power of Locals: Introduction Radzhana Buyantuyeva, Maryna Shevtsova -- Part I: It’s new for them? Imagining post-socialist LGBTQ+ activism from the ‘Western’ perspective -- 2. Beyond Western Theories: On the Use and Abuse of “Homonationalism” in Eastern Europe; Roman Leksikov, Dafna Rachok -- 3. Visibility, violence and vulnerability: lesbians stuck between the post-Soviet closet and the Western media spectacle; Masha Neufeld, Katharina Wiedlack -- 4. “Мы не ошибка (We are not an Error): Documentary Film and Russia’s Campaign Against “Gay Propaganda.”; Clinton Glenn -- 5. “I’m gay, but I’m not like those Perverts”: Negotiating Issues of Identity, Community and Activism among Homo- and Bi- sexual Russian Men; Cai Weaver -- Part II: Outlawing rainbows: LGBTQ+ rights, activism and the role of state in Central and Eastern Europe -- 6. Negotiating uncertainty around intimate citizenship: LGBTQI people and state recognition of same-sex partnerships in Estonia; Kadri Aavik -- 7. The Localization of Sexual Rights in Ukraine; Thorsten Bonacker, Kerstin Zimmer -- 8. Trends of homophobic activism in Romania or ‘How to turn religious convictions into a referendum and still fail; Ramona Dima -- 9. Putin as Gay Icon? Memes as Tactic in Russian LGBT+ Activism; James E. Baker, Kelly A. Clancy, Benjamin Clancy -- Part III: Giving voice to locals: LGBTQ+ movement and queer politics in Central and Eastern Europe -- 10. Latvian LGBT movement and the narrative of normalizationl; Karlis Verdins, Jānis Ozoliņš -- 11. Framing queer activism in Poland - from liberal values to solidarity; Justyna Struzik -- 12. Polish asexualities: Catholic religiosity and asexual online activism in Poland; Anna Kurowicka, Ela Przybylo -- 13. Activism for rainbow families in Hungary: discourses and omissions; Rita Beres-Deak -- 14. Tension around LGBTQ community through the case of bisexual representations in Hungary; Rahel Katalin Turai -- 15. Conclusion; Radzhana Buyantuyeva, Maryna Shevtsova.

This edited collection offers in-depth perspectives into the emergence and development of LGBTQ+ movements in Central and Eastern Europe, including analysis of Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine. The book examines various issues faced by local LGBTQ+ activists, as well as the tactics and strategies which they develop and adopt. The contributors discuss the applicability of Western ideas and concepts to the post-socialist context, considering their ability to fully tackle local nuances and complexities with regards to sexuality and, thus, the dynamics of LGBTQ+ activism. The volume examines differences in the domestic policies of these countries and the consequent effects on LGBTQ+ activism in the region. It also offers important insights into the impact of Western actors in promoting liberal democratic values in the region, and ensuing political and social backlashes. LGBTQ+ Activism in Central and Eastern Europe will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines, including Gender and Sexuality Studies, Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science. Radzhana Buyantueva is a Teaching Assistant at the School of Politics, Newcastle University, UK. Maryna Shevtsova is a Fulbright Scholar at the Center for European Studies, University of Florida, USA.