We recently covered Berlin Pride (Christopher Street Day) and Folsom (below) but there are a lot more gay reasons to put Berlin on your travel radar this summer from exhibitions and street festivals to a queer night at the zoo.
EXHIBITIONS
“Homosexuality_ies” on History of Homosexuality
June 26 until December 1, 2015
In cooperation with Berlin’s Gay Museum (Schwules Museum), the German National History Museum is planning interdisciplinary exhibitions in both museums on gay history, politics, culture and art. The culture-historical exhibition aims to contribute to a social recognition which goes beyond tolerance. It will show what political contributions the homosexual emancipation movement has made toward the development of a democratic civil society in which everyone is accorded equal rights and equal opportunities.www.dhm.de/en/ausstellungen/preview/homosexuality-ies.html
Gay Museum: New Location and Changing Exhibitions
Reopening June 25
Since its founding in 1985, Berlin’s Schwules Museum (Gay Museum) has grown into one of the world’s largest and most significant institutions for archiving, researching and communicating the history and culture of LGBTIQ communities. At its new location in a converted former printing house, the museum features four exhibition spaces and a café. Exhibition highlights in 2015 include a look at Berlin’s former – and openly gay – mayor, And that’s a good thing – 13 Years of Klaus Wowereit As Mayor Of Berlin (until 17 May 2015) and Homosexuality_ies, the double exhibition in cooperation with the German Historical Museum. (above and atwww.schwulesmuseum.de/en/exhibitions/view/homosexuality-ies/),www.schwulesmuseum.de/.
Hotel News
►Pink Pillow Collection: More Berlin Hotels go Above and Beyond “Gay Friendly”
In its second year since its inception in 2013, the world’s first hotel network for LGBTQ guests, the Pink Pillow Berlin Collection, grew from 23 members to 65 participating hotels and guest houses in 2015. The Pink Pillow initiative was designed by visitBerlin and the organization’s hotel partners to further strengthen Berlin’s standing as a leading travel destination for LGTBQ visitors, and to manifest the city’s image as an open and welcoming metropolis.
Hotel members of the Pink Pillow Berlin Collection are committed to taking the extra step to welcome LGBTQ travelers by adhering to defined guidelines that include an equally high standard for all guests, regular staff workshops, as well as an active engagement in social LGBTQ projects. The hotels will also provide guests with information on LGBTQ interests and the scene in Berlin.www.visitBerlin.de/en/article/pink-pillow-berlin-collection
LGBTQ Summer Events
►Lesbian and Gay Street Festival
June 20 – 21, 2015
In 2015, Berlin’s Rainbow Fund will present its 23rd annual Lesbian and Gay Festival, which is the largest event of its kind in Europe. Expecting some 50,000 visitors, the festival will again take place around Nollendorf Platz in the Schöneberg district, one of Berlin’s traditional gay stomping grounds. (www.gay-stadtfest.de).
►Christopher Street Day
June 27, 2015
Glitzy costumes, fantastic wigs and brightly painted faces – Berlin’s Christopher Street Day will be celebrating its 37th anniversary in 2015. This popular event promises to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the German capital to celebrate equality and tolerance for gays and lesbians around the world. LGBT residents and visitors alike can again expect to see some 50+ floats and look forward to partying with half a million people. (www.csd-berlin.de).
►Gay Night at the Zoo
July 17, 2015
For over 10 years this popular open-air swing party has been a highlight of Berlin’s summer party calendar. Dance the night away surrounded by elephants, tigers and penguins. www.gay-night-at-the-zoo.de/index.html (in German).
► International QueerTango Festival
July 23-26, 2015
The third annual QueerTango festival has quickly become on of the world’s most successful queer tango events. More than 200 participants from around the world – and of all levels – will again bring the magic of tango to Berlin. www.queertangofestival-berlin.de/en/index.html
► Folsom Europe Berlin
September 12/13, 2015
Thousands of leather and fetish aficionados are openly celebrating during this party-filled Berlin weekend. folsomeurope.co/folsom-europe/?lang=en
More information www.gay.visitBerlin.com
The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author. 