Lesson 5.1: Grassroots resistance
This topic introduces the wide range of grassroots strategies that queer, trans, and feminist activists use to counter anti-gender narratives and policies. Resistance can be overt – visible protests, legal advocacy, and public campaigns – or quieter, grounded in everyday practices of care, digital security, and safe-space creation. What unites these approaches is a commitment to collective survival, even in contexts where civic space is shrinking.
4. Safety and visibility
Visibility is both empowering and dangerous. Communities must constantly assess risk. Some activists choose to remain public despite personal harm. One German participant asked:
‘Who does it if not me? And if I leave … no one will do it.’
Others rely on pseudonyms, coded art, private events, or closed digital spaces. These decisions reflect a spectrum of strategies rather than a hierarchy: both strategies are political and both are necessary.
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Managing visibility requires collective effort. Digital safety training, emotional support, and shared decision-making help communities weigh risks and reduce individual vulnerability. |