Labrisz 25 – the beginnings

In 1996, a few lesbian women decided to create a meeting place and representation (which had been almost absent until then) for lesbian and bisexual women in Hungary. They published an unofficial, photocopied magazine called Labrisz, which ran for four issues. The name was inspired by the Belgrade-based Labris, with which several people had friendly and romantic ties :-) The magazine was available through advertisements in the Mások magazine and the feminist magazine Nőszemély or through the Meleg Háttér LGBT hotline. We received many letters from all over the country. The editors (Bea Sándor and Judit Hatfaludi) organised discussions for readers – these became the monthly Labrisz evenings that are still running today, providing a safe space to share a wide range of issues affecting lesbian* women.

In 1999, the activist-minded women who gathered at these nights founded the Labrisz Lesbian Association.

 

A lot has happened to us and around us in 25 years. Throughout the year we will share some of these important episodes, documents and pictures. And in connection with the LIFT Festival in the autumn, we will organise an exhibition about Labris and traces of the wider lesbian herstory. 

Below are the front page of the first issue of the Labrisz newspaper, two letters (from György Kövesi, who later became the coordinator of our first education programme) and some pictures from one of the inaugural meetings.