Linz

Linz, a city with about 207,000 inhabitants, is located in the middle of Europe at major crossroads from east to west and north to south.

Linz has always been a city of industry and labour; a city that provides more jobs than it has inhabitants and therefore a city that is the driving force for an entire region.

About 40 years ago Linz was known as the city with the highest air pollution in Austria. However, in the last centuries the cultural infrastructure was developed to create a modern and open-minded culture, and today Linz is a leading city for new technologies and creativity.

Change and innovation require a positive, open-minded attitude towards the future. This basic attitude has become part of the image and identity of the city and its citizens. Linz is a best-practice example of what kind of change is possible.

Policy

Linz is diverse and a place where all people should feel comfortable regardless of their gender and sexual orientation. An open, tolerant and diverse society requires the involvement of all groups in the political discourse. The facilities and institutions of society must be open to democratic participation by all citizens and no one must be the victim of discrimination.

Especially at the community level, there are many opportunities to promote acceptance, tolerance and peaceful, respectful interaction with one another.

Key focus areas 

The short-term focus of the city’s LGBTQI+ policy is the development of an overall concept to strengthen and promote the community with the involvement of representatives of the community. This shall cover various fields, such as the world of work, culture and education, tourism, support services, commemoration of the victims of National Socialism, cooperation between the city and LGBTQI+ organizations and associations.

In the long term, the overall concept is to be translated into concrete measures in the individual fields of action. This shall contribute to the elimination of discrimination and to comprehensive integration.

Municipal sectors/services involved

Within the city, the office of the city government, the women’s office and the equal treatment commissioner are particularly involved. Other actors are called in as needed to address specific issues.

Collaboration with advocacy / interest groups, NGO´s, healthcare

Event-related cooperation with the Homosexual Initiative Linz (HOSI Linz)

Other collaboration partners

Event-related cooperation with soccer team “Stahlstadt-Kickerinnen”

Which administration section will implement the policy?

The strategic control of the measures is carried out directly by the office of the city government. Operational tasks are carried out by the Women’s Office and the Equal Treatment Officer.