The global IDAHOT theme for 2025 chosen by Civil Society Organisations is “The Power of Communities”. What does this motto mean to you personally?

Communities are found everywhere where people gather. If it’s a community in which everyone shares the same hobby, or if the connection is built trough having similar backgrounds, communities help to feel less alone and share a passion with others. Personally for me, a community is a space to laugh, learn, suffer and grow together. I’m part of different communities, on one hand through my hobbies, like playing in a theatre or in a football team, and on the other hand through connecting with people who share a similar passion with me. The queer community is a very special one for me, as all the people share a very personal part of their life, knowing that the other ones will understand, as they may have experienced similar stories.

EUDEL IN SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN

In what ways does your work contribute to political and social change in Switzerland and across Europe and how do you view the role of European collaboration in strengthening advocacy for LGBTQIA+ communities?

My film documentary “Queerness im Wandel der Zeiten” (Querness Trough the Ages)  portrays elderly queer people who share their stories and tell us how they helped the community to achieve queer rights and reflect on what still has to be done. I hope that my film will give the older generation the voice they never had in their youth and show my generation of queers where the acceptance we experience today comes from and that we shouldn’t take it for granted. The film also talks about political changes which aren’t yet reality in Switzerland, such as a third gender marker for nonbinary or intersex people - showing why it’s necessary for our community, and that nonbinary people have existed for generations, but just never had someone who listens. This could be a small step in order to achieve our still missing rights.

EUDEL IN SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN

What does solidarity with LGBTQIA+ communities look like to you in three words?

Sharing – expressing - feeling safe

Luna Paiano (they/them) is a young film maker who recently released their first documentary about Swiss queer history as their high school graduation project. The 100-minute-long film is an homage to elderly queer people in Switzerland. They originally presented their idea at the event “Senior queer citizens and pioneers”, organized by the Federal Office for Equality of the City of Bern at Bern Town Hall in May 2024. A year later, the project is ready. See the trailer to the film (in Swiss-German) here.