Modern Europe

The New Polish Government and ‘Gender Ideology’

By Lukasz Szulc April 28, 2016 Modern Europe, Religion and Sexuality 1 comment

The crusade against ‘gender ideology’ started with a letter by the Bishops’ Conference of Poland.

Operation Hyacinth and Poland’s Pink Files

By Lukasz Szulc February 2, 2016 LGBTQ, Modern Europe 0 comments

Łukasz Szulc Thirty years ago, on 15 and 16 November 1985, the police forces of the People’s Republic of Poland (PRP, 1952-1989), in cooperation with the Secret Service, conducted an undercover operation, code-named Hyacinth. The aim of the operation was to detain, interrogate, and register both actual and alleged homosexuals in order […]

The Cologne Sexual Assaults in Historical Perspective

By notcheseditor January 19, 2016 Modern Europe 3 comments

Michelle Lynn Kahn “Are you safe?” Emails from loved ones flooded my inbox the first days of 2016. All assumed the worst-case scenario: that I was among the victims of the coordinated sexual assaults on New Year’s Eve at the Central Train Station in Cologne, Germany, where I am writing […]

The Hunger of the Finnish Bachelor: Married Men, Desire & Domesticity in 20th Century Finland

By notcheseditor October 6, 2015 Food and Sexuality, Modern Europe 0 comments

Summer widowers might attempt to recapture the erotic possibility of their single days.

‘Pray the gay away’: The Catholic Church, Sexology and Sexuality in Italy

By Chiara Beccalossi June 16, 2015 LGBTQ, Modern Europe 0 comments

Chiara Beccalossi From Ireland’s recent referendum in support of same-sex marriage to the Australian Prime Minister’s adamant refusal to offer a conscience vote on the same issue, countries around the world are once again talking about homosexuality. But for all the positive steps taken towards granting LGBTI citizens the same rights as […]

Franca Viola says ‘No’: Gender violence, consent, and the law in 1960s Italy

By Niamh Cullen March 31, 2015 Modern Europe Comments are Disabled

Niamh Cullen On 8 March 2014, a 66-year-old Sicilian woman was awarded the title of Grande Ufficiale dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica by Italian president Giorgio Napolitano. He bestowed the highest honour of the Italian Republic upon Franca Viola in a public ceremony to mark International Women’s Da, honouring her role in a […]

Conchita’s Europe: Eurovision, homonationalism and the politics of sexuality

By Lukasz Szulc May 19, 2014 LGBTQ, Modern Europe 1 comment

Łukasz Szulc Polish politicians from all major parties have suddenly become commentators on Conchita Wurst’s winning of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest on May 10. This is a striking preoccupation given the upcoming European Parliamentary elections soon set to happen on May 22-25. While foreign policy situations like Ukraine and industrial concerns like the […]