History of Quarteera

We want to highlight the most important milestones in Quarteera's history.

2022

Since the first days of the war, Quarteera has been actively involved in supporting LGBTQ* individuals from Ukraine fleeing to Germany. Within the first two weeks, an effective system was established, based entirely on volunteer work.

2021

• Together with activists from Russia and with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, the project “Development of Student Queer Movements in Russia” was implemented.
• The second revised edition of the brochure “The Situation of LGBTQ* People in the Former Soviet States” was published in German.
• A community center for Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ people was opened in Berlin.
• Exhibition “Hate Crimes Against LGBTIQ* in Russia."

2020

• Together with the LGBTQ* Resource Center Yekaterinburg, a project funded by the German Foreign Ministry, “LGBTQ* Education at Universities in Russia” was implemented.
• As part of the project “Разнообразие heißt Vielfalt”, numerous educational events were held, and educational materials were published.
• The first Marzahn Pride took place.
• Quarteera became a member of the Federal Association of Russian-speaking Parents.
• Educational trip “Art as a Tool of Political Education.”

2019

• In collaboration with the Waldschlösschen Academy, the project “Разнообразие heißt Vielfalt” was launched.
• Project “GARDEN”.

2018

• The project “Meeting of Russian-speaking LGBTQ* Activists and LGBTQ*-Friendly Bloggers” was implemented with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office.
• Lecture “Russian-speaking LGBT in Germany: Different Groups, Common Interfaces” in Kyiv.
• Seminar “Strategies of Help and Support for Asylum Seekers” with the LGBT organization “Maximum” in Murmansk.

2017

• Meeting of Young Activists from Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia.
• Participation in Kyiv Pride with a performance.
• Quarteera became a member of the “EU-Russia Civil Society Forum”.

2016

• Meeting of LGBTQ* Parents from Eastern Europe.
• Quarteera was awarded the Prize “Active for Democracy and Tolerance” for its work with Russian-speaking LGBTQ* refugees.
• Participation in Pride events in Kyiv and Tel Aviv.

2015

• Quarteera’s football and volleyball teams participated in the Respect Games.
• Quarterly themed evenings on LGBTQ* topics with film screenings and discussions in Russian at the Art Café “Aviator”.
• Support for the video “11” as part of Mischa Badasyan’s SAVE THE DATE project.
• Participation in Rainbow Week in Moscow.
• Trip to Queer Home Kharkiv and participation in Kyiv Pride.
• Socio-cultural survey within the Russian-speaking community in Berlin on the acceptance of LGBTQ* lifestyles.
• Reorganization and professionalization of Quarteera began.

2014

• Conference “Gold for Equal Rights” at the Red Town Hall in Berlin in cooperation with Schwulenberatung, Berliner Aids-Hilfe, and Deutsche Aids-Hilfe – discussion on human rights in Russia, using the “anti-homosexuality” laws as an example.
• A project to support LGBTQ* refugees was launched.
• The first edition of the brochure “Myths and Facts about LGB” by Valery Sozaev was published in Russian for Germany.
• Support for the publication of the book “Children-404”.
• Participation in CSD events in Berlin, Hamburg, Oldenburg, Rostock, and Kassel.
• Meeting of Russian-speaking activists at the Waldschlösschen Academy.

2013

• The short film “Babushka Calling or Give it a Try” in Russian was produced with support from filia.die frauenstiftung.
• Quarteera won first place in the tent competition at the 21st Lesbian-Gay City Festival in Berlin.
• Quarteera was awarded for the best implementation of the motto at CSD Berlin.
• Participation in and organization of protests against the propaganda law in Russia.
• Performance at the Compact Magazine conference during the appearance of Elena Mizulina.
• Quarteera members now meet every first Friday of the month.

2012

• Lectures and guest lectures on the situation of LGBTQ* individuals in post-Soviet states.
• The brochure “Situation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender People in the Former Soviet States” was published.
• Quarteera won third place in the tent competition at the 20th Lesbian-Gay City Festival in Berlin.
• First Russian-speaking track at CSD Berlin.
• Participation in CSD events in Hamburg and Weimar.
• Excursion to Ahlbeck.
• Weekly newsletter on LGBTQ* issues in Russian-speaking states.
• First edition of postcards featuring images of well-known Russian artists and quotes in Russian, in which they discuss their homosexuality.

2011

April 1, 2011: Founding day of Quarteera e. V.

• Educational workshops on LGBTQ* lifestyles for Russian-speaking youth in Barathal in collaboration with JunOst e.V. and Coming Out (St. Petersburg).
• Participation in the 19th Lesbian-Gay City Festival in Berlin under the motto “We Have Moved In”.
• Participation in CSD Berlin and Hamburg with posters reading “Our Rights Are Worth More Than Your Gas” and “Russia, Come Out! No to Violence Against LGBTQ* in Russia.”
• Demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy against the violent suppression of Moscow Pride.
• Demonstrations against regional propaganda laws in post-Soviet states.
• Quarteera activists now meet on Tuesdays at the LSVD Berlin premises.