What is Quist?

The app is free for any phone or tablet that runs Apple or Android operating systems. For students that don’t have such a device, we have a listing of free online resources for learning LGBTQ history that can be used for the activities instead.

Below you will find three recommended activities to do with students in class. For all activities, the first step is to launch Quist on your mobile device.

When you open the app, you will find all the Quist events that happened on that day in history (like October 1, below). The number of dots at the bottom will show you how many there are for that date. Swipe to browse them all and tap on the screen of any one of them to open up a new screen with more details about that event.

Activity 1

Select your favorite event of the day from the launch screen. Note the country in which the event took place and research that country’s other notable LGBTQ history in the app. List the three events you think made the most impact and why. Once students have done this individually they can share with the class in a group discussion on the differences between different countries LGBTQ history and what makes something “historical.”

For this activity, tap the bars in the top right of the screen to select the “Browse by Country” tab. that enables you to search LGBTQ history events by selecting the country in a world map.

Activity 2

Find an event that interests you from at least 50 years ago using the Explore Events feature. You can search by decade like “1880s” or “1720s” by tapping the Explore Events tab from the right sidebar (which opens when you tap the top right corner of the screen).

Check the country or region in which the event takes place and research online how that area protects (or doesn’t protect) the LGBTQ community today.

• Are transgender people are able to choose their gender marker on their ID?
• Are sexual orientation and gender identity protected classes under the hate crimes law? In workplace discrimination law? In housing discrimination law?
• Are same-sex couples able to get married or have other recognition of their partnership? Can they adopt children?

Discuss: How have the events of the past impacted the level of rights today? Does the progress seem slow or fast to you?

Activity 3

Go to one of the links in Quist’s list of online LGBTQ history resources. Read about the history you find there and find a specific event that interests you. Type in keywords into the “Explore Events” tab (see Activity 2) to see if the event is in Quist. If it’s not, submit it to be included in Quist using the online form. Keep searching the Internet for LGBTQ history until you find an event not currently in Quist and submit it. You must write a description of the event and cite your source.

Bonus Activity for Outside of the Classroom

Have a Quist Hackathon! If your GSA or LGBTQ group is looking for something to do to get involved in LGBTQ history, search in your library and online for queer historical events that aren’t in Quist yet. Then submit as many as you can during the event with this form. If you tell us about it (at info@goi.nmb.mybluehost.me) and your groups submits 10 or more events during your hackathon, we’ll send you a prize!

Looking for full curricula on teaching LGBTQ history? GLSEN’s Unheard Stories for grades 6-12 is available for download here.