So, what colour are your bedsheets?
LGBTQ+ asylum seekers across Europe struggle to prove their sexuality to find safety.
This story is a part of our magazine—The Queer Issue.
You Flinch, You Lose
enMarch 31, 2021
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Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?
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About this Episode
There are many types of Studentenverbindungen (“student associations”) in Germany, with different historical roots. Modern-day clubs like the Corps Hubertia date from the 19th century, although they uphold rituals emanating from even older traditions. Not all of them practice the Mensur, and there are important differences in their political views and admission criteria. But they all promise life-long friendship and a support network that cuts across generations of men.
This is a story from our latest magazine on sports which uncovers how in German fraternities, a controversial sport tradition turns boys into men.
Recent Episodes from Are We Europe Readouts
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Queer people are being targeted everywhere we turn. In its 2021 report, ILGA—the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association—has warned of a stark rise in abuse and hate speech against LGBTQ+ people. This is not just coming from increasingly organised groups of bigots on social media, but also from government and mainstream media. Is Europe paying attention to these warning signs?
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This story is a part of our magazine—The Queer Issue.
Waiting for the Cutscene
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Are We Europe Readouts
enJune 23, 2021
All of this is queer, all of this is fado
Fado Bicha defies fado’s traditions and brings lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex themes into the core of Portuguese traditional music. It’s queer because it’s not ashamed of showing itself: “Fado is rooted in four elements: melody, harmony, rhythm and lyrics. Its main role has always been to tell a story: about the city, about the joys and sorrows of love.
This story is a part of our magazine—The Queer Issue.
A Secret Love Language
Best described as a “cant”—a form of language spoken by a group and that is unintelligible to outsiders—Polari was mostly spoken by British gay men until the mid-20th century. Consisting of around 500 words, it resembles a mixture of English with Cockney rhyming slang, Italian and Yiddish. Speakers used it for secrecy, to identify each other and for camp humour.
This story is a part of our magazine—The Queer Issue.
Carving Out Your Own Path to Integration
“Integration has nothing to do with learning the Chancellor’s name.”
Reflecting broader society, social spaces specifically conceived to welcome migrants and refugees are often marked by heteronormativity. Instead of finding a safe haven, queer migrants are once again forced to hide their sexual preferences and live in fear of being found out as they did back home.
This story is a part of our magazine—The Queer Issue.