Femcities Conferences
City of Berlin
Being part of the queer community as a lesbian woman can present challenges due to pervasive discrimination, stigmatization, and societal biases. Lesbians may face prejudice and exclusion, impacting various aspects of their lives, from relationships to housing and workplace environments, highlighting the ongoing struggle for acceptance and equal rights within the broader social context.
The municipal housing association “Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte” (WBM) announced a project for the construction of a social housing and retirement home for lesbian and queer tenants. The project was co-created with the non-profit "Rad und Tat gGmbH" and will be located near Alexanderplatz.
There will be 72 barrier-free flats, five of which will be wheelchair-accessible, and communal rooms for women and lesbians in all their diversity, including a shared flat for women with care needs. Moreover, the project will offer a neighbourhood café on the accessible ground floor, rooms for counselling, health prevention and educational seminars as well as a large event hall with a dance floor for cultural and music events. The house will thus become a centre and contact point for lesbians in old age and lesbians with disabilities - a meeting place for exchange and a living community.
Since the building was designed through collaboration with future tenants, it reflects the needs of the community and provides a safe and supportive environment, free from potential discrimination or biases often encountered in mainstream housing. It fosters a sense of belonging, addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by lesbian women while promoting inclusivity and affirming their right to secure, respectful living spaces. Further, the central location of the project also helps to normalise the existence of queer people and increases their visibility.
City of Berlin - Homepage
Housing for Lesbian Women - Project
