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Lesson 5.4: Knowledge and continuity

5. Challenges

Knowledge-sharing is not always smooth. Tensions often arise due to differences in politics, privilege, lived experience, and strategy.

Germany
Participants described:

  • tensions between established NGOs and newer grassroots groups
  • gaps between digital-native activists and older organisers
  • uneven access to safety, healthcare, or institutional support

Still, coalition-building was identified as a core resilience strategy.
Switzerland
Generational misunderstandings, especially around ‘anti-gender’ misinformation, created friction. Yet patient dialogue – explaining terminology, sharing experiences, debunking myths – helped bridge divides.

Poland
Two-way frustrations emerged:

  • younger activists critiqued older gay activists (‘boomers’) for narrow agendas
  • older activists felt younger groups lacked organisational continuity

Yet many noted growing hope in new generations and the accelerating pace of change.

These patterns show why deliberate knowledge-sharing is essential: without it, distrust grows and political energy dissipates.