Berlin

Goal

  • Supporting emancipation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people 
  • Breaking down discrimination 
  • Promoting acceptance of diverse sexual identities and lifestyles 

Policy

In accordance with its Constitution and the German General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), Berlin is committed to equal treatment and the equality of people of different sexual identities. A variety of topics are associated with this mission. They form the framework for the LGBTI Unit of the Berlin State Office for Equal Treatment and against Discrimination (LADS) in the Senate Department for Justice, Consumer Protection and Antidiscrimination. 

With the establishment of the LGBTI Unit in 1989, the first government body in Germany was created to work for the interests of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI). Since then, the Unit has gained a reputation for taking up issues that are significant in the life situations of LGBTI and are important in terms of the need for political action. 

This involves providing information for the Senate and the House of Representatives, working on legislation and regulations and, for example, supporting legal developments at federal level through the Bundesrat. The LGBTI Unit develops concepts and campaigns. It initiates and moderates the dialogue between the administration and civic society. It runs events and publishes brochures on relevant topic areas. Since 2007, the Unit has been part of the State Office for Equal Treatment and against Discrimination (LADS). Since then, the cross-characteristic approach has facilitated close collaboration between groups potentially affected by discrimination in advocating basic and human rights. Differences within the LGBTI communities – in relation to age, disability or ethnic origin, for example – are perceived, and respect for diversity is regarded as a sign of quality in the work of the Unit and the projects it promotes. 

The Berlin Action Plan against Homophobia and Transphobia

In 2009, the Berlin House of Representatives passed the first action plan to promote acceptance of sexual and gender diversity and to fight homophobia and transphobia in Germany, the so called “Berlin supports self-determination and acceptance of sexual diversity!” initiative (ISV). In 2018 the Berlin House of Representative has passed the another renewed resolution and the Senate of Berlin adopted in July 2019 the new action plan, the so called “Berlin supports self-determination and acceptance of gender and sexual diversity!” initiative (IGSV) with more then 90 actions. The overall coordination of the initiatives and actions is managed by the LGBTI Unit.

Focus areas

Some of the main topics addressed by the IGVS are: 

  1. Combatting Discrimination, Violence, and Hate Crimes
  2. Improving Knowledge
  3. Protecting LGBTI Refugees
  4. Strengthening LGBTI History, Documentation and ist Education
  5. Diversity Within Diversity – Care, Age, Living with Disabilities
  6. Strengthening Education. Awareness Raising as well as Information within Youth and Family Work
  7. Driving Administrative Change
  8. Promoting Dialogue and Increasing the Visibility of Sexual and Gender Diversity
  9. Equal Rights for LGBTI – Advancing Legal Equality Nationwide  

Publications and other materials

There are different online and printed publications and materials especially in German language on different topics. Furthermore, there are informational folders about the Berlin Equality Body (LADS) and the LGBTI Unit as well as different factsheets in English.