Parallel Session: Lesbians* on the Frontlines – War, Protest, and Resistance

In contexts of war, occupation, authoritarianism, and mass protest, lesbian* voices are often erased. Yet across regions, lesbians* have long resisted militarism, built care networks, and challenged dominant narratives of both war and peace.

This session brings together lesbian* activists from Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Italy to speak from the frontlines of repression, survival, and resistance. We will ask:

Where are lesbians* in moments of crisis? What forms of solidarity, subversion, and survival do we create—locally and across borders? Through personal stories and political reflections, this dialogue highlights the power and urgency of lesbian* presence in global struggles for justice and freedom.

Facilitator: Mari Kurtanidze (they/she) – Queer feminist activist, human rights lawyer, and co-founder of the grassroots movement Lesbian Resistance* and Georgia’s first queer techno series, HOROOM Nights.