June 6th, 2018 in Warsaw, a location-based game took place, referring to the events that took place on November 15, 1985, named after Operation Hyacinth, a police action aimed at gay people in Poland.
Imagine that it is today...
It is November 15, 1985. This morning Citizens Militia entered your home and took you to the police station, where you were asked to give the names and addresses of your colleagues. You have been blackmailed that if you do not do it, it will be revealed that you are a homosexual person. You were set up with a Homosexual Card and your fingerprints were taken. Now you left the police station and want to warn as many people as possible, but you do not know all the meeting places. However, you do know where to start . You are in a place, where you know a few people and they will tell you where you can go to warn others... But you have to be careful.
Zine map (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
You received the map and with each completed task you get directions to where to go further .
"HYACINTH SHOULD STAY ONLY A FLOWER"
We created a zine for the game. It included materials for heterosexual people - a guide of what to do to support LGBTQIA people. Everyone could learn about the reality in which LGBT people lived 30 years ago.
A bit of LGBT history in Poland (2018) by grafika: Anna WeksejOriginal Source: Polish
A bit of LGBT history in Poland
1841. The
"Primula" magazine included the poem by Narcyza Żmichowska, "Poet's Happiness", considered to be a manifesto of
"Enthusiasts", the female movement activists. One can guess that in
some cases girls were more than friends, for example Paulina
Kuczalska-Reinschmit's and Józefa Bojanowska's relationship lasted 32 years.
1932. The Constitution of the Republic of Poland did not include the article about
penalizing homosexuality, contrary to the constitutions of Prussia and Germany.
11.19.2005. Equality March in Poznań was broken up up by the police. Despite the ban directed by the president of Poznań, several hundred people protested against discrimination based on gender, skin color, sexual orientation, and disability. Initially, the police shielded the demonstrators with two rows - behind them aggressive Nazis gathered on both sides of them.
Support Equality
Zine was also directed to the hetero people taking part in the game.
Photo of one of the players (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
The information was received camouflaged as an insert into a regular newspaper and fed from a trusted man, usually a gay or a lesbian. Full conspiracy.
Yellow socks (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Searching for places in the era of the lack of mobile phones and the Internet, we recognized one another, among others, thanks to yellow socks (girls).
Red socks (2018) by photo: Aga WiciakOriginal Source: Polish
For men, the red socks were the hallmark.
Black poetry station (2018) by photo:Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Prove that you are not an informer of the militia ...Complete the task of the Black-Out Poetry where you show your support.
Your work no. 2 (2020) by photo:Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Black-out poetry...
Homophobic texts from the nationalistic newspapers, which we transformed into a friendly text. It's possible!
Your work no.1 (2019) by photo; Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Create the anti-discrimination piece of art. Show that you can be trusted and pass the info where to meet LGBT people.
Streets of Warsaw (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Tell us what you think about the history of LGBT people in Poland.
Write what you think about the history and LGBT people
-History for me is .... -I support LGBT + people because ...
Station Two - answers (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
5. "I want a world where a human is a human for another human being"
Street exhibition (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
The game was accompanied by photos of LGBT events from the 90s. It took place in the center of Warsaw. Everyone could stop and watch them.
Street exhibition (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Courtesy of Campaign Against Homophobia, Trans-Fusion Foundation, Program Station, Association for Counteracting Domestic Violence and Blue Line, we could offer our players some brochures related to LGBTQIA people.
Everyone who survived until the end of the game received a Homo Hero with a Hyacinth flower symbol.
Our team (2018) by photo: Ola NowickaOriginal Source: Polish
Our team. With the help of young volunteers, we promote history.
Historical Club of Fundation Q
