"My night in prison because I kissed a man"
Struggles for equality: the homosexual movement in Austria

Teaching materials from the House of Austrian History (hgdö) on the homosexual movement in Austria with videos from QWIEN.

This unit deals with the struggles for recognition, rights and equality of marginalized groups that were waged primarily in the 1970s and 1980s. The example of the homosexual movement will be used to show what discrimination and legal disadvantage can mean in practice, how groups begin to develop resistance against it and how legal conditions and social positions can be changed as a result. Similar struggles were also waged by other groups in the second half of the 20th century: feminists, environmentalists and a rebellious youth movement. Homosexual activism was chosen as an example here because this lesson is also intended to encourage a discussion of homophobia and the legal and socio-political situation of homosexuals today.

The pupils

• analyze video interviews, reproduce their content and interpret them against the background of shifts in social values and norms.
• deal with discrimination and political options for countering it.
• reflect on social discrimination and ways to change it.

approx. 2 to 4 teaching units

BS: Civic education
Area of competence Living in society: Social relationships. Personal and social responsibility.
Competence area Participation in shaping society: Civil society engagement.
Fundamental and human rights.

Also suitable for teaching the following school types and subjects:

AHS / NMS: History and social studies/political education
Secondary level I
– 4th grade: Module 7 (historical-political education): Social change — in the 20th and 21st centuries

– Secondary level II
— 8th grade: Competence module 8

BAfEP: History and Social Studies, Political Education
– 5th year: 9th semester – competence module 9
– 5th year: 10th semester – competence module 10

HAK: Political Education and History
– 4th year: 8th semester – Competence module 8

HAS: Political Education and Contemporary History
– 1st year: 1st and 2nd semester

HTL: Geography, History and Political Education
– 3rd year: 5th semester – competence module 5

The learning module on the homosexual movement in Austria, which works with materials from QWIEN and our archive, among others, was made available to us by the House of Austrian History. “My night in prison because I kissed a man” and other learning materials can also be found on the hgdö website. The materials can be used either in preparation for the museum visit or independently of it in the classroom. They are designed in particular for the subjects of history/social studies and political education.

Author: Peter Larndorfer
Graphic: zunder zwo

An offer of the House of History Austria in cooperation with:
Center for Civic Education/PH Vienna
Didactics of Civic Education/University of Vienna
Institute for Contemporary History/University of Innsbruck

This project was realized with the kind support of:
National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism
Future Fund of the Republic of Austria