Tips and events for the queer community

Oktoberfest stands for tolerance, respect and diversity

The largest folk festival in the world stands for cosmopolitanism, tolerance and diversity. The City of Munich is committed to these values and expressly welcomes LGBTIQ* people at the Oktoberfest and fights against all forms of discrimination.

At the Wiesn 2019, the City of Munich set an example by hoisting two rainbow flags at the entrance. "The Wiesn stands for Munich's motto 'live and let live' like no other event. Two men kissing or women holding hands are completely normal there. Tolerance is an essential measure of the peacefulness of the Wiesn," says Wiesn boss Clemens Baumgärtner.

Events for the community at the Wiesn

Oktoberfest has been a meeting place for the LGBTIQ* community for many years. Some of the events have already achieved cult status and take place regularly at the Oktoberfest:

• Sunday, 22 September, from 9 am: "Gay-Sunday" in the Bräurosl
  Over 40 years ago, the gay Münchner Löwen Club (MLC) launched Gay Sunday.Every first Wiesn Sunday, the gay and lesbian community meets all day in the Bräurosl. Here, the club regularly reserves enough space for the MLC balcony in the marquee. The rest of the tent is of course freely accessible, but is mainly visited by the LGBTIQ* community.

• Monday, 23 September, from 3 pm: "RoslMontag" in the Bräurosl
  As it often gets quite crowded on Gay Sunday, one day later there is an unofficial, free gay get-together in the Bräurosl - "RoslMontag". Meeting points for all LGBTIQ* are the Bräurosl beer garden (to the right of the main entrance) and the rear part of the beer tent (under the balcony). There is no reservation. 
   
• Sunday, 29 September, 4.45 pm: ProudWiesn in the Armbrustschützen-Festzelt
  The ProudWiesn is a fairly new event for the community, which two LGTBIQ* corporate groups (from BMW and Diversity Tourism) have brought to life and which already had over 300 participants before the Corona lockdown. The target group is primarily members of various LGBTIQ* business groups and their friends. Reservation tickets are required for participation. 
   
• Monday, 30 September, from 1 pm: "Prosecco-Wiesn" at the Fischer-Vroni
  The "Prosecco Wiesn" looks back on over 30 years of tradition.On the second Monday of the Wiesn, the LGBTIQ* community comes together in the Fischer-Vroni from the early afternoon.The smallest of the big Wiesn tents can get quite full early on. The name of this meeting place comes from the former organiser, the owner of the Prosecco Bar.
   
• Sunday, 6 October, from 1 pm: Gay Wiesn finale at Schottenhamel-Festhalle
  On the last day of the Wiesn, the community also meets casually in the Schottenhamel Festhalle to round off the Wiesn. The meeting point is at the warm kitchen.

LGBTIQ* hostility at the Oktoberfest - what to do?

• There must be no room for homophobia and violence at the Oktoberfest.However, if there is an incident of LGBTIQ* hostility, the Munich LGBTIQ* Coordination Centre generally advises: "Fight back!Get support!Report it quickly!" and recommends always dialling 110 in emergencies. This also applies to the Oktoberfest. The Munich police Wiesn-Wache is located in the service centre on the western edge of the Theresienwiese (box-shaped copper building behind the Schottenhamel tent) and can also be reached directly via the emergency number. In addition, the Wiesn-Wache police officers are on regular patrol

Safe Wiesn campaign for women*

• During the Wiesn, there is a safe space especially for girls* and women* in the Service Centre (First Aid entrance). If you feel threatened or have been harassed, coerced or raped, you can go there. Experienced and trained specialists (psychologists and social pedagogues) will give you professional advice and support and accompany you to the police.

LGBTIQ* hostility at the Oktoberfest - what to do?

• There must be no room for homophobia and violence at the Oktoberfest. However, if there is an incident of LGBTIQ* hostility, the Munich LGBTIQ* Coordination Centre generally advises: ‘Fight back! Get support! Report it quickly!’ and recommends always dialling 110 in emergencies. This also applies to the Oktoberfest. The Munich police Wiesn-Wache is located in the service centre on the western edge of the Theresienwiese (box-shaped copper building behind the Schottenhamel tent) and can also be reached directly via the emergency number. In addition, the Wiesn-Wache police officers are on regular patrol.
   
• LGBTIQ* hostility at the Oktoberfest - what to do?

Safe Wiesn campaign for women*

• During the Wiesn, there is a safe space especially for girls* and women* in the Service Centre (First Aid entrance). If you feel threatened or have been harassed, coerced or raped, you can go there. Experienced and trained specialists (psychologists and social pedagogues) will give you professional advice and support and accompany you to the police.
   
• To the website of the ‘Safe Wiesn’ campaign