Memory of queer victims: New project in Melk sets signs

Memory of queer victims: New project in Melk sets signs

A pioneering project recently saw the light of day in the Melk district. The association strange - contemporary historical center (ZHZ) Melk, together with Qwien - has taken on the sensitive theme of the queer prisoners in the Melk concentration camp together with Qwien. Under the title "Light. Look. Look at. Delicate", the often ignored history of these victims of National Socialist persecution is to be aware.

Melanie Grubner, one of the project employees, expresses that it is high time to finally get the attention to the previously anonymous victims who have suffered tragic fates during the Nazi era. This should not only be done through historical research, but also through educational offers that should strengthen the visibility and rights of queer people.

a holistic approach

The project will work in three core areas: research, mediation and sensitization. A central concern is to look for cooperation with Qwien, to integrate expert knowledge and integrate local organizations that are committed to the rights and visibility of queer communities. "We also want to set an example that we do not close our eyes before exclusion and discrimination that still prevails in society today," says Grubner.

Grubner emphasizes that it is important to reflect who and how in memory is taken into account and which mechanisms still exist. "We also have to ask ourselves why certain groups find less attention in the culture of memory than others," she emphasizes. The aim is to address this invisibility and create space for discussions that deal with today's society.

With the upcoming start of the project, those responsible would like to set a sign of acceptance and inclusion and draw attention to the fact that the memory of the victims of the Melk concentration camp must be considered in a more comprehensive context that also takes current discourses and topics into account. Further information can be found in a detailed report on www.noen.at .