„We have to preserve our history ourselves!“ reads the first newsletter of the Lesbian Archive – the forerunner of today‘s SPINNBODEN Archive – from 1981. SPINNBODEN and FFBIZ-das fem. Archiv are still dedicated to this task today.

FFBIZ-the fem. archive, SPINNBODEN, the Center for Interdisciplinary Women‘s and Gender Studies (ZIFG) at TU Berlin, and the Queer Contemporary History Network in German-speaking Europe at FU Berlin invite you to a transatlantic evening of lesbian-feminist oral her*story. We bring stories and history to the stage, remember ups and downs, look back and forward.

Judith Raiskin, Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Oregon, Eugene, presents the oral history project Outliers and Outlaws, which documents the history of the vibrant lesbian community of Eugene, Oregon (USA). Lesbian women* who moved to Eugene in large numbers between the 1960s and 1980s tell their stories, which testify to the power of courageous and creative living. Branded as outsiders*, they forged an alternative community that eventually changed mainstream culture and politics. Outliers and Outlaws consists of 83 oral her*story interviews, a digital exhibition, and a short documentary film.

Friederike Mehl, Archivist, presents the ongoing FFBIZ project Berlin in Bewegung, in which activists of the feminist movement(s) of the 1970s and 80s from West and East Berlin have their say. They recall struggles and projects that shaped Berlin and brought about lasting change.

Katja Koblitz, director of the SPINNBODEN Archive, will present the project Friedliche Revolution? Lesbian-Feminist Perspectives on 1989. Once again, the fall of the Wall and its consequences in the East and West Berlin lesbian and women‘s movements come to life. Which encounters took place at that time and which contacts and connections emerged around 1989 and afterwards?

The evening will be moderated by Andrea Rottmann, Historian at FU Berlin and in the Network for Queer Contemporary History

Event in English. We will make every effort to provide whispered interpretation.

The Aquarium is wheelchair accessible.

We welcome a current corona test and recommend wearing a mask. If you have cold symptoms, please stay home.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit the project of a joint archive center of FFBIZ-the fem. archive, the Spinnboden Lesbian Archive and the Magnus Hirschfeld Society.