Switzerland Underground

Together with European embassy partners, the Embassy of Switzerland in the USA presents “Switzerland Underground”, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Washington and Dupont Underground.

Der Kreis (The Circle) was the first ever international LGTBQ+ organization based in Switzerland, which inspired and influenced communities throughout the Western world in the mid-20th century. In the years following World War II, a small band of Swiss writers dared to publish a bi-monthly magazine, The Circle, smuggling it into countries throughout Europe. The magazine, and its associated galas and balls, served to showcase the creativity of the gay community, build community, and helped give Zürich a reputation as the gay capital of Europe.

Director Stefan Haupt's docu-drama follows protagonists Ernst Ostertag and Röbi Rapp, who met at one The Circle's balls in 1958, lived together in Zurich until Rapp’s death in 2018, and in 2007 were the first gay couple to register their partnership in Zürich. The film combines period scenes with the moving testimonies of the people who lived them. The Circle shines a light into a fascinating but nearly forgotten corner of gay history and makes it glow.

RSVP with this link (free)

This event is part of a program series at Dupont Underground by members of EUNIC DC – the European Union National Institutes for Culture – in connection with World Pride and the Berlin Underground exhibition. For all events visit Dupont Underground.

Logo designed by This January

The film will be shown in Swiss German with subtitles in English.

Registration is required. Please note that security screening will be in place and guests will not be permitted to bring large bags into the event.