Melodie Moore (any pronouns) is an undergraduate student at Christopher Newport University pursuing a degree in political science with a concentration in Chinese studies. Growing up in an era of political upheaval and worldwide movements caused Melodie to engage with politics from an early age. She seeks to highlight queer history to empower the new generation of LGBTQ+ people. 

 

Motivated to cause positive change in politics, she began working for CNU's Reiff Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in 2024. Since then, Melodie has contributed to a variety of research, including a study on the efficacy of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and a study on LGBTQ+ Eurovision contestant’s impact on perceptions of queer people in their country and abroad. She hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Chinese politics and a career in a China-adjacent field. 

 

Outside of the political sphere, Melodie is an avid rugby fan, orchestra enthusiast, and reader. She plays for CNU’s nationally-ranked Women's Rugby Club as scrumhalf. 

​

During her internship at PTLP (beginning May 2026), Melodie will research, write, and produce a profile resource kit on Liddy Bacroff for our LGBTQ+ Stories from Nazi Germany initiative. She will also manage the PTLP's Instagram account. 

​​

Speaking on her motivation to join the Pink Triangle Legacies Project, Melodie says: "When I found out I was a lesbian, one of my first thoughts was “what does this mean and what do I do about it?” LGBTQ+ people are prominent in popular culture, but there was no lesson on queer people in history in school. I felt like there was nowhere to turn to learn what the “right” way to act as a lesbian was. PTLP provides an answer to both of my questions. LGBTQ+ communities resisted during the Holocaust—and speaking about it continues the legacy of refusal to do nothing when governments endeavor to restrict us. Through PLTP, I can continue the legacy that lesbians before me created by being advocates and historians for the LGBTQ+ community.

 

To me, this internship is a way to expand my knowledge of the LGBTQ+ experiences during the Holocaust as well as gain more experience in the field of public history. As a lesbian myself, I think that these stories are essential to fostering a sense of community throughout the LGBTQ+ world. Without this, it becomes harder to defend against numerous and increasing attacks on our rights. Accessibility in every form is also deeply important to me, and I am excited to have helped make this essential portion of history available to various audiences."