LGBTQ+ YouTube narratives in Eastern Europe

While scholarship on LGBTQ+ activism in Eastern Europe is rapidly growing, there is still a lack of systematic comparative research on online LGBTQ+ activism in the region. The paper aims to fill in this gap by analyzing what narratives LGBTQ+ activists employ in YouTube videos and with what purpose. The analysis focuses on the cases of Estonia, Russia, and Ukraine. Estonian, Russian, and Ukrainian LGBTQ+ activists have a relatively short history of employing social media in their work. However, digital communication practices have become extremely important for the development of the LGBTQ+ movements in the region. Having little access to the mainstream media, the Internet and social media platforms offer useful communication channels for identity and community building as well as knowledge exchange for LGBTQ+ activists. Although Eastern European LGBTQ+ activists employ a range of social media, this paper focuses on their use of YouTube and what narratives are predominant their videos.