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- The Situation of Queer People in Germany<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How Organizations and Volunteers Support the LGBTQI* Community<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What to Keep in Mind When Volunteering with Queer People<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find a volunteer opportunity with LGBTQI* on vostel.de<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FAQ \u2013 Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering with Queer People<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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1. The Situation of Queer People in Germany<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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LGBTQI* stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex\u2014that is, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer. The plus sign represents other sexual orientations and gender identities that do not fit clearly into these categories. In German-speaking countries, the abbreviation LSBTIQ* is also frequently used, which has the same meaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the LGBT+ Pride Study<\/a>, about 12 percent of people in Germany identify as queer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- 5 percent lesbian or gay<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 4 percent bisexual<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1 percent transgender, nonbinary, or genderfluid<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1 percent pan- or omnisexual<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 1 percent are asexual. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Legally, there have been significant changes in recent decades: The so-called \u201cgay paragraph,\u201d Section 175, which criminalized sexual acts between men, was not fully repealed until 1994. Nevertheless, for many queer people, social reality remains marked by discrimination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discrimination and hate crimes are on the rise <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2025, police nationwide recorded<\/a> 2,377 hate crimes against queer people\u2014a new record high and a 12.8 percent increase from the previous year. In addition, queer people also face structural discrimination. About 30 percent report experiencing discrimination in the workplace; among trans* people, the figure is even over 40 percent. In the healthcare sector, 15 percent of respondents<\/a> felt they were discriminated against last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Particular Challenges for Queer Youth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Young queer people are particularly affected. A study on the living conditions of queer youth in Bavaria<\/a> shows that nearly half of 13- to 24-year-olds had suicidal thoughts in the past year. This is often due to what is known as \u201cminority stress\u201d: constantly having to deal with discrimination, rejection, or the fear of it leads to increased psychological strain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As another study by the German Youth Institute<\/a> shows, the overall conditions for this have improved significantly over time: While nearly half of today\u2019s 15- to 17-year-olds feel supported in school, only 7 percent of those over 40 report having received support during their own school years. This shows just how much schools and society have changed for the better for queer youth in recent decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social acceptance remains ambivalent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
73 percent of Germans<\/a> believe that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people should be protected from discrimination. For transgender people, the figure is 70 percent. However, only one in two people supports concrete legal measures. This gap between general agreement and political implementation shows that legal protection alone is not enough as long as it is not supported by a broad social consensus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is exactly where volunteer work comes in\u2014it provides direct support and visibility for queer people, regardless of how far the political debate has progressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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2. How Organizations and Volunteers Support the LGBTQI* Community <\/strong> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Volunteer work has a long tradition in the queer community, as many organizations\u2014from counseling centers and community centers to self-help groups\u2014were established through civic engagement. The LSVD+ (Association for Queer Diversity)<\/a> is Germany\u2019s largest non-governmental LGBTQI* rights organization and is active nationwide through its state chapters. Much of its work is carried out by volunteers. In addition, there are numerous local associations, CSD organizations<\/a>, and educational projects such as the SCHLAU initiatives<\/a>, which provide education on sexual and gender diversity in schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Role of Volunteers<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVolunteers take on a wide variety of tasks in this area: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Behind-the-scenes support:<\/strong> administrative assistance, fundraising, or expert support (e.g., legal advice) for queer organizations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Counseling and Support:<\/strong> Providing assistance at counseling centers or as a mentor, for example, to queer refugees<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Educational Initiatives:<\/strong> Conducting workshops on sexual and gender diversity in schools<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community and gathering spaces:<\/strong> Getting involved in queer youth groups, meeting places, or networks such as Lambda that foster exchange and solidarity<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visibility and Organization:<\/strong> Co-organizing CSD events and demonstrations, public relations, social media, or event planning for queer organizations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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3. What to Keep in Mind<\/strong> When Volunteering with Queer People<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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- How Organizations and Volunteers Support the LGBTQI* Community<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n