QueerHistoryMonth | Ilse Kokula – Pionierin der Lesbenforschung | Kinofilm und Gespräch

In the organizer's words:

QUEERHISTORYMONTH

QueerHistoryMonth will take place in Hamburg from May 1 to 31, 2026(www.queerhistoryhamburg.de). Various events as part of the festival will bring the history(ies) of the queer community in Hamburg to life. Everyone is welcome - kings, queers, queens, allies, friends, families (of choice) and everyone in between and beyond!

The event

A film portrait pays tribute to Ilse Kokula, one of the first voices in lesbian research. Afterwards, director Madeleine Marti will talk about the genesis, context and significance of this impressive life story between science, activism and visibility.

As part of Tea Time for Lesbians, we will be showing the documentary Ilse Kokula - Pioneer of Lesbian Research. This will be followed by an online discussion with the director.

Ilse Kokula, born in Silesia in 1944, is one of the central figures in lesbian research in German-speaking countries. Despite early educational barriers, she acquired her knowledge independently and carried out fundamental academic work as early as the 1970s. She published her thesis on the HAW women's group in 1975 in the context of the Lesbian Action Center (LAZ).

Kokula lectured internationally, including in the Netherlands, where she held a visiting professorship in Utrecht in 1985, and published several books on the social situation and history of lesbians. From 1989 to 1996, she was also the first co-director of the Berlin "Referat für gleichgeschlechtliche Lebensweisen".

To mark Ilse Kokula's 75th birthday, literary scholar Madeleine Marti created this sensitive film portrait - a tribute to a woman who has left a lasting mark on academic, political and social spaces.

Switzerland/Germany, 2019, 30 min., Director: Madeleine Marti

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Date: May 18, 2025

Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Location: LAB Altona in the MOTTE, Eulenstraße 43, 22765 Hamburg

Organized by: Länger aktiv bleiben e.V. (LAB Hamburg) and Älterwerden unterm Regenbogen

Participation is free of charge. Donations to support our work are welcome, but are not a prerequisite for participation.

Registration is not required - but we would be pleased if you could register in advance, as this makes it easier for us to plan. Please contact us at: altona@labhamburg.de

The event is barrier-free accessible. An elevator is available.

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Information

Photos and video recordings can be made as part of the public relations work for QueerHistoryMonth.

QueerHistoryMonth is only responsible for marketing and coordination and is not the organizer of the individual events.

All organizational and content-related tasks, including security, permits and insurance, are the sole responsibility of the respective organizers (responsible organization).

The QHM is not liable for the content, organization or damages that occur during the events. The organizers shall indemnify the QHM against all third-party claims, including those for injury, property damage or loss.