A guide for care recipients, relatives and facilities in Berlin

Care is more than physical support—it's always about relationships, communication, and respect. Many people take this for granted. But for LGBTIQ* care recipients and their families, care often also means uncertainty, experiences of discrimination, and the fear of not being accepted for who they are.

Queer-sensitive care starts right here: It pays attention to the realities of life of LGBTIQ* people and creates a space in which diversity is a given.

1. Respect for different ways of life

Queer-sensitive care means that caregivers, daily assistants, and facilities recognize that there are different lifestyles. These include:

• Care by chosen families instead of traditional relatives,

• same-sex partnerships,

• Transidentity or non-binary identities,

• biographical experiences of discrimination, coming out or HIV.

It is a matter of not just “tolerating” these realities, but of actively incorporating them into care.

2. Language and communication

Language is key: The correct form of address (name, pronouns) builds trust. Caregivers should ask questions instead of assuming. Forms and procedures must also be inclusive—for example, by including "life partner" or "member of the chosen family" alongside "spouse."

3. Protection against discrimination

Many older LGBTIQ* care recipients have experienced discrimination in their lives. These experiences shape how safe they feel in a care situation. Queer-sensitive care therefore means:

• Clearly identify and prevent discrimination by staff or fellow residents,

• offer internal training for nurses,

• Creating spaces where people don’t have to pretend.

4. Historical experiences of queer people and their significance for care

Those providing queer-sensitive care today must consider the history of queer people. Many care recipients who are now elderly experienced their coming out in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s—decades marked by invisibility and struggle, but also by vibrant cultural and social spaces.

• Until 1969/1994: Homosexuality was punishable under Section 175 of the German Civil Code. Many gay men and queer people lived with fear of discovery for decades.

• The 1970s: First liberation movements, founding of gay and lesbian groups, first queer centers in West Berlin.

• The 1980s: The AIDS crisis shaped an entire generation. Adopted families often took over care because biological families turned away. Solidarity was essential for survival.

• The 1990s: Increased visibility, the founding of organizations like RUT – Rat und Tat eV (Rat and Tat) and the Sonntags-Club (Sunday Club ). At the same time, trans people faced significant hurdles regarding transsexual law.

👉 These experiences still have an impact today:

• Many older LGBTIQ* care recipients have learned to be cautious and to hide.

• For gay men, the memory of the AIDS crisis is present – caregiving can awaken old traumas.

• Trans people continue to experience uncertainty in care, from incorrect pronouns to lack of knowledge about their medical history.

Queer-sensitive care therefore means respect for this history and recognition of the life path .

📌 Infobox: Historical queer places in Berlin – and their significance for care recipients

Many LGBTIQ* care recipients who rely on support today found their identity in the queer spaces of the 1970s and 1980s. These places served as homes, safe spaces, and political centers—experiences that continue to shape their lives today.

1970s

• Anderes Ufer (Schöneberg, opened in 1974): Europe's first gay café, a meeting place for activists, intellectuals, and artists.

• Eldorado (Motzstraße): Revival of the legendary cabaret from the 1920s, a symbol of queer history.

• Café Rosa (Kreuzberg): Lesbian reading café, heart of the women's movement.

• Bahnhof Zoo & Tiergarten: Informal meeting places, important for gay men, but characterized by insecurity.

1980s

• Metropol (Nollendorfplatz): One of the largest discos in Europe, an icon of the West Berlin scene.

• Scheune (Motzstraße 7): Darkroom bar, central to the leather and fetish scene – still in existence today.

• SchwuZ (Kulmer Straße, from 1977): Political-cultural club for parties, readings, theater.

• Begine (Schöneberg, founded in 1986): Lesbian cultural center with café, concerts and discussions.

• Eisenherz Bookstore (Motzstraße, since 1978): Gay bookstore with readings and debates – still active today.

• Café Mauerspecht (Kreuzberg): Politically queer café with a lesbian focus.

👉 Why is it important for care?

These places shaped lives. Those who provide queer-sensitive care today should understand that many care recipients found community, freedom—and sometimes even their survival—in these spaces.

5. Thinking about everyday assistance in a queer-sensitive way

It is especially in everyday life that it becomes clear whether care is queer-sensitive:

• Do I feel free to leave photos of my partner or chosen family in the apartment?

• Is it respected that friends are just as important as relatives?

• Are queer spaces in Berlin seen as a natural part of everyday life – especially for older people?

👉 Examples from Berlin:

• "Second Half" at the Sunday Club – a group of older gay men who organize outings, cultural evenings, and movie nights together. Many describe the group as a new chosen family.

• RuT – Rad und Tat eV – offers a monthly lesbian café and the "Time for You" visiting service. For many women*, this means getting out, nurturing friendships, and trying new things together – from workshops to cultural excursions.

• Mann-O-Meter – a gay checkpoint at Nollendorfplatz with leisure groups for men 50+, including the “Monday Players” and the “Night Owls,” who visit theater, readings, or bars together.

• Begine – cultural center for women* with intergenerational offerings such as literature groups or the “Fossi-Treff.”

• Gay Counseling Berlin – with discussion groups such as “Aging Differently” or the “Mobile Salon” visiting service for people who are no longer as mobile.

• Sports club Vorspiel SSL Berlin – with the group “Rostfrei” offers sports activities for older LGBTIQ* people.

These examples show that queer-sensitive everyday support also means promoting access to such services – be it through support, information, or simply by encouraging people to become part of a community again.

6. Queer-sensitive care in Berlin – examples

Berlin has a special role to play: There are already several initiatives and institutions here that practice queer-sensitive care or where you can find information and literature:

• Schwulenberatung Berlin – Specialist office for LGBTI*, aging and care : Counseling, housing projects and care services for LGBTIQ* people.

• RUT – Rat und Tat eV : Lesbian cultural center with advice and meeting place, especially for older lesbian and queer women*.

• Eisenherz Bookstore : Important cultural venue, meeting point with events and readings.

• Begine : Cultural center by and for women*, with a long-standing focus on lesbian and queer culture.

• AlleFarben Alltagshilfe : Everyday support and care advice that takes diversity for granted and actively offers queer-sensitive care.

7. What relatives and friends can do

Chosen families and relatives can also provide queer-sensitive care by:

• specifically ask about queer-sensitive care services,

• clearly state the needs of their friends or partners,

• actively demand support in the event of discrimination.

Conclusion: Queer-sensitive care is diversity with respect

Queer-sensitive care means not only considering LGBTIQ* realities, but also placing them at the center. It's about enabling those receiving care to live freely—without fear or pretense.

Berlin has already created important structures in this area. However, it is crucial that caregivers, relatives, and institutions all assume responsibility together . Because care is only good when it not only accepts diversity, but celebrates it.

👉 You can find out more about our services in the care advice (§ 7a) , in the everyday help services or directly on our contact page .