LGBTQIA*

The English acronym LGBTQIA* stands for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer*, Intersex, and Asexual.” The LGBTQIA* Affairs Division within the Office for Equal Opportunity and Diversity addresses issues and needs of the queer community. We are committed to ensuring that LGBTQIA* individuals have equal opportunities for participation. We also aim to strengthen the visibility and acceptance of queer identities and lifestyles within the city’s community. We regularly exchange ideas with organizations and initiatives in Erlangen and the surrounding area. To expand access to the City of Erlangen’s programs and services for LGBTQIA* individuals, we are in contact with other city departments.

Are you looking for the right counseling service? You’ll find an overview under “Support & Help.”

Queer Inclusion in Erlangen

Queer people have always been part of our society. Nevertheless, even in Erlangen today, the LGBTQIA* community must still advocate for participation and visibility—things that should be taken for granted.

For this reason, we show our solidarity several times a year on queer action days by raising the rainbow flag at City Hall. The rainbow benches on Nürnberger Straße are also intended to make queer life in Erlangen more visible. Despite progress, queer people remain underrepresented in many areas. Since 2020, we have been sponsoring a stage at events such as the Queer Poetry Slam held during Erlangen’s CSD to give queer voices a stronger platform.

LGBTQIA* individuals continue to face discrimination, and their needs are not always taken into account. Restrooms for all genders at City Hall and other public facilities make a small contribution toward making everyday life easier.

Starting in the fall of 2024, the Queer Center will open in Erlangen, offering the LGBTQIA* community and its allies a space for counseling, events, and dialogue. The youth center “QueErlangen,” which the city has been funding since 2022, is also set to be housed there, offering young people a safe space to gather. The Queer Center is funded by the city. This makes Erlangen the third major city in Bavaria to establish a queer meeting place with a comprehensive range of services.

None of this would be possible without the many dedicated groups and individuals from the LGBTQIA* community in Erlangen and the surrounding area. In a democratic society, it is essential that queer people are recognized as full members and can freely express themselves. That is why we are happy to support efforts toward inclusion and visibility—in keeping with the city’s motto, “Open by Tradition”!