Hildesheim distinguishes queer -friendly university communities!

The Evangelical Student Community (ESG) and the Catholic University Community (KHG) in Hildesheim were recognized as queer -friendly communities. This award took place as part of the semester opening service and was presented by representatives of the Hildesheim-Sarstedt church district youth service. In their speeches, they paid tribute to the commitment of the communities for respectful, safe and inclusive cooperation.

Jonathan Overlach, pastor of the ESG, emphasized the need for a queer -friendly church in which everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. He said that there is "no tolerance to intolerance" in the university community and it is important to take clear positions against right -wing extremists. Klara Maria Breitkopf, head of the KHG, added that diversity within the church is not a matter of course.

commitment to inclusive rooms

The university community designs its rooms as inclusive as possible. This includes, for example, the cancellation of traditional gender signals in toilets and the provision of period products. Many students offer these measures an important shelter. Antonia Plassmann, student and member of the management team, said that a completely safe space was not accessible, but you still wanted to create a "safer room". An anonymously permanent student even reported that she was not questioned for the first time in a church context in the university community.

The award is part of the "Safer Space" campaign of the Hildesheim-Sarstedt church district youth convention. This campaign aims to create church spaces in which people can develop without fear of discrimination or exclusion. Municipalities that participate in this initiative set a visible sign of diversity, respect and inclusion. Through recognition as a queer -friendly community, the ESG and KHG reaffirm its claim to design church as an open and appreciative place for all people.

The term "Safer Spaces" not only refers to specific physical places that are free of prejudices and discrimination, but also has historical roots that go back to the 1960s, combined with the history of feminism and the LGBTQ+ movement. Today's use of the term emphasizes the recognition of continuing forms of discrimination and the challenges in front of which queer people face. These developments make it clear that the need for safe spaces in the German queer history and the present is of great importance, especially against the background of increasing attacks on LGBTQ+ people and their meeting points.

The award of the ESG and KHG is not an isolated case, but underlines a trend of initiatives and campaigns that are committed to visibility and inclusion within the church and beyond. These efforts are necessary to reduce discrimination and to promote the rights of all people.