“Travesty in the GDR” has hardly been studied historically to date. In a year-long project, the “Travesty in the GDR” team has been working intensively on this history and researching, among other things, how playing with gender roles was integrated into the gay and lesbian movement in the GDR.

On 5.12.24 we will celebrate the finale of the project on queer remembrance culture and the launch of the project’ shomepage , which will provide initial insights into this topic from this day onwards.

The evening will be hosted by Hannes Hacke and project manager Tom Weller will present highlights of the project – including the new project website, some interview excerpts, film clips and a timeline of queer East-West history. There will also be space for discussions with the contemporary witnesses and the audience.

Two special artists will be performing to celebrate the day: Die schöne Müllerin (born in 1942 in Friedrichshain, over 50 years of stage experience), who performed travesty in East Berlin in the 1970s and was part of one of the few state-approved travesty groups in the GDR in the 1980s. Kaey (born in Halle in 1979, over 25 years of stage experience), the well-known Berlin singer and trans* activist, will also be singing for us. Both accompanied us as contemporary witnesses as part of the project and were filmed and interviewed by us.

The event will be translated into German sign language (DGS) and will be held in German spoken language. Admission: free.

Anyone who would like to come in drag or in drag is very welcome. There will also be an opportunity to change on site.

Photo: Joseph Wolfgang Ohlert