The Neon Sign LGBTQ+ Cafe in Berlin Became a Target of Hate

• The number of attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals and establishments is increasing in Berlin.
• The cafe Das Hoven has been the subject of 45 criminal cases in the last 18 months.
• At the Christopher Street Day parade, there was an atmosphere of fear among participants.

Berlin — The neon sign at the cafe Das Hoven in the trendy district of Berlin proudly displays "QUEER AND FRIENDS." This sign was meant to indicate that the cafe is a safe place for LGBTQ+ individuals. However, it has become a magnet for hate and homophobic attacks.

The owner, Daniel Zarte, reported that in the past half-year, there have been 45 criminal cases associated with the establishment. These incidents include verbal and physical attacks on patrons and staff, as well as vandalism, including broken windows, damage with explosives, and graffiti with swastikas. One individual even stood with a pistol near the cafe.

"This is an act of terror," Zarte said. "I often have to watch my patrons and be careful to check my phone, because something new might happen. Attacks on queer people and establishments, friendly to LGBTQ+, are increasing in Germany, including Berlin, a city that historically supports queer communities.

In the past year, there has been a 40% increase in violence directed at LGBTQ+ individuals, in 12 out of 16 federal states in Germany compared to 2023, according to data from the Association of Counseling Centers for victims of hate crimes, racism, and anti-Semitic violence.

Activists assert that these numbers only show part of the problem, as victims often fear coming forward. They often blame this increase on the rising right-wing forces in Europe, especially in Germany, where the party "Alternative for Germany" significantly strengthened its position in the elections this summer.

Hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals serves as a "gateway to violence" for right-wing extremists, according to Judith Porat, the leader of the association. Experts observe a growing demonstration of violence among neo-Nazis, especially from young men.

Bastian Fincke, head of MANEO, an organization that monitors anti-gay violence in the capital, noted that those who openly identify as queer in the streets of Berlin "automatically expose themselves to a very high risk simply by who they are." These scenarios occur daily.

Fear was palpable during the Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin, which commemorates the uprising at Stonewall in 1969 in New York. "We are truly facing a reality: people are afraid, they are intimidated," said Thomas Hofmann, a member of the organizing committee.

Thousands of people gathered for the celebration, dancing to techno music on the way to the Brandenburg Gate. "This is indeed a powerful, wonderful symbol for greater equality," Hofmann added.

Hofmann and others have long been advocating for lawmakers in Germany to introduce amendments to the constitution to explicitly include legal protections for queer individuals against discrimination based on gender identity. However, this seems likely to become a political priority.

For Zarte, the stress from hate crimes and politics continues unabated, except for the Christopher Street Day parade, which always brings its own slogan. "It’s very exhausting — to feel fully accepted one time a year," he said.

Tags: Europe/Politics/Crime