Campaign

Berlin is the City of Freedom and a global symbol of queer visibility, diversity, and community. However, this international resonance is not something to be taken for granted; it requires political support, long-term investment, and a clear strategy for the future. Any city that aspires to be the international “Rainbow Capital” must also create the necessary conditions to permanently safeguard and foster queer life.

To strengthen its status as the Rainbow Capital and to send a political signal as a City of Freedom, the Berlin CSD e. V.—with the support of the *Lesbisch-schwules Stadtfest* (Lesbian -Gay City Festival) and Folsom e. V.—will submit a bid to host World Pride 2032. Hosting World Pride would be far more than just a major international event: it would serve as a visible affirmation of freedom, diversity, and democracy, as well as a catalyst for the sustainable expansion of queer infrastructure, international networking, and social inclusion. Furthermore, the local economy and tourism sector would benefit significantly from hosting the event. At the same time, a bid offers the opportunity to initiate long-term investments in culture, community spaces, and democratic civil society, thereby further reinforcing Berlin’s standing as an open, inclusive, and diverse metropolis.

Therefore, we demand:

Political and financial support for a bid to host World Pride 2032, and the inclusion of this objective in the upcoming coalition agreement.

Queer spaces serve as safe havens, cultural institutions, venues for celebration, meeting points, and integral parts of Berlin’s urban history. However, an increasing number of queer venues are disappearing due to rising rents, displacement, and a lack of long-term security. The goal must be a city where queer life remains visible and where new spaces can emerge—spaces that are safe, accessible, and secure in the long term.

Therefore, we demand:

A sustainable protection and development program for queer spaces, aimed at securing existing venues for the long term and creating new spaces for social interaction, culture, and community.
That queer projects be given greater priority in the leasing and rental of state-owned properties, in order to strengthen community-oriented and low-threshold initiatives.
Support from the state government for the establishment of a major community center to serve as a hub for culture, education, social interaction, and nightlife.
Free access to public spaces for non-commercial queer projects and events (e.g., town halls and municipal venues).
Increased financial support for queer organizations and initiatives in the outer districts, where queer infrastructure remains underdeveloped in many cases.
That the state government utilize a Bundesrat initiative to advocate for making the federal program “Demokratie leben!” (Living Democracy!) permanently queer-inclusive, and for further developing the funding program “Queer leben” (Living Queer).

Queer people in Berlin must be able to live visibly and safely—on the streets, in schools, in nightlife venues, in public spaces, and in the digital realm alike. At the same time, anti-queer violence, digital hate campaigns, and disinformation are increasing perceptibly.

Therefore, we demand:

Support for the community in establishing its own safety and support structures—fostering community self-empowerment—specifically through the funding of self-defense courses, safety protocols, victim support services, and low-threshold channels for communication and reporting within the community.
That the state government advocate at the federal level for stronger regulation of digital platforms. Furthermore, platforms and perpetrators alike must be consistently held accountable under applicable law in order to effectively combat online hate, anti-queer incitement, and disinformation.
The fulfillment of the state’s pledge of protection to the queer community, ensuring that queer people can move freely, visibly, and safely in public spaces.
The binding implementation and adequate funding of the measures outlined in the 2025 State Strategy for Queer Safety and Against Anti-Queer Hostility, thereby translating political announcements into tangible improvements in the daily lives of queer people.

The Berlin CSD welcomes the constructive cooperation between community stakeholders and the Berlin Police aimed at enhancing the safety of queer people. At the same time, queer individuals continue to report negative experiences in their interactions with security authorities. The objective must be to strengthen trust, effectively expand protective measures, and jointly develop sustainable solutions.

Educational institutions shape the society of tomorrow. Therefore, they must be places where diversity is visible, where respect is a matter of course, and where queer people can learn, work, and thrive in safety. Discrimination must be consistently countered, and the free development of gender and sexual identity must be enabled.

Therefore, we demand:

The mandatory inclusion of queer lived realities in classroom instruction and teaching materials.
Reliable financial support for external educational, prevention, and counseling services that schools can access with minimal barriers and bureaucracy.
Independent and easily accessible complaint mechanisms for pupils, students, and teaching staff who experience or witness discrimination.
The recognition of gender identity in all documents, regarding the use of restroom facilities, and in forms of address.
Support for diversity working groups in Berlin’s schools.

Queer people continue to face structural barriers, gaps in care, and discrimination within the healthcare system. At the same time, there is a heightened need across many areas for psychosocial support, mental healthcare, and accessible, queer-competent services. Healthcare must be accessible to all people—free from discrimination and tailored to their actual lived realities—regardless of their place of residence, income, or gender identity.

Therefore, we demand:

The expansion of local, accessible, and queer-competent healthcare services—particularly in underserved districts—to ensure that support is available regardless of one’s place of residence.
Significantly increased financial funding for psychosocial counseling services and mental healthcare for queer people, specifically to reduce waiting times and close existing gaps in care.
That the future state government make a binding commitment to continuing and implementing the United Nations’ goals for ending AIDS, and that it secure the necessary long-term funding for the associated prevention, testing, and support services.
That the state government advocate at the federal level to ensure non-discriminatory access to gender-affirming and gender-confirming treatments, and to guarantee reliable cost coverage by statutory health insurance providers.

Pride parades, street festivals, cultural events, and community gatherings are far more than just leisure activities. They generate visibility, strengthen social cohesion, and enable democratic participation. In doing so, they also contribute significantly to Berlin’s queer infrastructure.

At the same time, they represent a major economic and tourism factor for Berlin: they attract millions of visitors from both home and abroad, generate revenue for the hospitality, gastronomy, cultural, and retail sectors, and shape Berlin’s international image as an open and diverse metropolis.

While the city benefits economically and in terms of tourism from its queer visibility, event organizers often bear significant financial risks and shoulder the burdens of organization, security, and infrastructure with limited resources and a high degree of voluntary effort. As a result, many organizing associations are pushed to their absolute limits and find themselves increasingly unable to fulfill their core missions regarding community support, cultural work, and political advocacy.

Therefore, we demand:

A significantly larger share of the revenue generated by the City Tax to fund major queer events and the organizations that host them, given that these events contribute substantially to Berlin’s appeal as a tourist destination and its international standing.
A permanent funding program to safeguard major queer events—and the associations behind them—that provides multi-year planning security and moves beyond the limitations of short-term project-based funding models.
The recognition of queer events as an integral component of Berlin’s cultural and tourism strategy, and their appropriate inclusion in the city’s funding and location-based development policies.