SCHWÄBISCH GMÜND.- A groundbreaking new exhibition, "Wish You Were Queer," has just opened its doors at the Museum im Prediger, inviting visitors to delve into centuries of self-perception and public visibility for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI*) individuals. This compelling show, running until September 27th, offers a vital look at how queer lives have been lived, hidden, and ultimately celebrated.

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The exhibition powerfully illustrates the profound impact of the 1969 Stonewall Uprisings in New York. These pivotal days, when queer individuals finally stood up to violent police raids at the Stonewall Inn, marked a turning point, igniting a global movement for emancipation and fostering a growing sense of self-confidence that continues to inspire Pride demonstrations worldwide.

"This invisibility," explains Dr. Martin Weinzettl, deputy museum director, "is a characteristic aspect of queer art and history." He notes that the historical pressure to conceal one's true identity often led to the destruction of evidence or its encoding in subtle forms. The exhibition's title, "Wish You Were Queer," directly speaks to this challenge, encouraging visitors to "queer-read" historical sources and art, deciphering the hidden stories within.

Spanning three floors, "Wish You Were Queer" features an impressive array of artworks from the Middle Ages to the present day. It's a journey through fluctuating degrees of LGBTI* visibility in art, encouraging a closer look at the codes of same-sex desire and the nuanced expressions of sexual, romantic, and gender diversity. The show also highlights how, over time, the full spectrum of queer life, including everyday experiences, has increasingly found its way into artistic representation.

Beyond the art, the exhibition's "History" section zeroes in on personal narratives from the Schwäbisch Gmünd region. Visitors will learn about queer individuals from Gmünd, understanding their unique circumstances and the world they inhabited. The exhibition emphasizes that local LGBTI* emancipation could not have happened without the global inspiration and growing visibility of their peers.

A special aspect of the exhibition is the focus on the often-overlooked history of lesbian lives. Unlike male homosexuality, which was long criminalized and thus documented in police and court records, sources on lesbian life are scarce. "Lesbians are paradoxically both visible and invisible, as is their art, their history, their literature – it's all there – some may still be hidden and remain so," observes Elke Heer, Equal Opportunities Officer for the City of Schwäbisch Gmünd. She stresses the need to "look closely together, research, accept gaps, or fill them with courage, imagination, and empathy!"

This exhibition is truly a community effort, a collaboration between the Museum im Prediger, the City Archives, the Office for Equal Opportunities, and the VHS Schwäbisch Gmünd. It also draws on the groundbreaking research of the "Unicorn Seeks Rainbow" history workshop, which has diligently documented queer life in Schwäbisch Gmünd for the first time through interviews, archival deep dives, and the collection of personal memories.

To complement the exhibition, an accompanying volume, "From Shadow into History: Lived Worlds of LGBTI* in Schwäbisch Gmünd," will be launched on July 14th. This publication promises to bring previously untold stories of the city's queer past into the light, including the fascinating tale of Eva Barbierer, who lived as a man and was executed in 1565, and the coded communications of a gay male network in the 1920s.

"Wish You Were Queer" is more than just an exhibition; it's an immersive experience supported by a rich public program. From a city tour tracing local LGBTI* history to film screenings, philosophical discussions on gender language, and a "Queerformat" photo competition, there's something for everyone to engage with this vital topic. A highlight in September will be a panel discussion with Berlin painter Norbert Bisky, exploring LGBTI* visibility in contemporary art.