Flamingo languages

Welcome to Berlin, Europe’s Queer Metropolis!

“Berlin ist ´ne Wolke” or Berlin is fantastic, as the Berliners say. The city is a symbol of once-divided Germany, but it is also a barometer for the current situation of reunification. Berlin is admired for its many types of architecture and its museums, full of art treasures and visited by millions each year. The natives and those who moved here enjoy the free and easy lifestyle, the cultural and gastronomic possibilities, but also the edgy side of this city.

For lesbians and gay men Berlin is a paradise! The metropolis on the Spree is the definitive capital among German cities. Assuming that an average of 10% of the population is gay or lesbian, Berlin can then count at least 300,000. Although it’s probably more. And thanks to our openly gay city mayor (“And that’s the way it’s supposed to be!” commented Mayor Klaus Wowereit on his coming-out after the election) the gay/lesbian fraction has an important advocate directly in the city hall, the Rotes Rathaus.

Due to historical circumstances, the gay and lesbian scene is spread out across the whole city. There is no singular street or district as in some other cities. Traditionally, Nollendorfplatz and its memorial to the homosexual victims of fascism is an important address. But after the Wall fell, gay and lesbian life also blossomed in the former Eastern districts of Friedrichshain, Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, because former Eastern Germany had some catching up to do. Even far-flung districts such as Marzahn have their own projects dealing with counselling and a monthly disco. In the Western part of the city, many locations have changed: Famous bars such as Drama, the Oranienbar and Café Anal had to close, while clubs such as Wuwu or Ufer have celebrated their reopening and a whole lot of new bars and clubs catering to every taste have opened up.

There are several districts in the city centre that have great nightlife – Kreuzberg, Mehringdamm and Oranienstraße, Schöneberg the Bermuda Triangle, the area between Nollendorfplatz, Wittenbergplatz and Viktoria-Louise-Platz, as well as Prenzlauer Berg Greifenhagener Straße and Gleimstraße. But on Christopher Street Day in June, the whole community comes together to dance! “And that’s the way it’s supposed to be!” to use the words of the mayor.