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In cities like Berlin, there are numerous clubs, meeting places, parades, and much more for queer people. There is hardly any other place where the queer community can live their lives as freely as in Berlin, even if there is still a long way to go before tolerance is widespread. But what about people who live in rural areas? Country life has always been considered socially difficult. Everyone knows everyone else, there is gossip and sometimes even exclusion. Is this a real issue and how do queer people experience rural life? Is there such a thing as genuine village pride?
One country, two realities – queer life in the countryside
Compared to other countries, queer life in Germany is now at least partially possible. However, it makes a significant difference whether you live in the countryside or in a big city. While you are more anonymous and free in the big city, in the countryside you often encounter conservative values and a close-knit community.
You stand out like the proverbial “colorful dog” when you show up at the shooting festival with your partner, possibly even proudly dressed in queer clothing or wrapped in a rainbow flag.
Unfortunately, it is still standard practice for queer people in rural areas not to be open about their sexuality and to withdraw. Some even live a double life because they cannot bear the exclusion of other villagers.
Village pride: Identity issues among queer people in rural areas are not uncommon
For Hessenschau, David Muniz-Hernandez, who is gay, reported on his experiences. He has been splashed with beer and discriminated against as a “faggot.” He has not always lived in Germany; he grew up in a conservative small town in Mexico. When his parents found out about his sexual orientation, they kicked him out.
He was homeless for a while and later emigrated to Canada. He came to Germany through the marriage of his partner in Bavaria.
Muniz-Hernandez reports that Mexico has a bigger problem with queer hostility than Germany. However, he also says that feelings of shame are still widespread. He knows this not only from his own experience, but also from the Acceptance and Diversity Fulda project, in which he participated.
The project was funded by the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs. Professor Carola Bauschke-Urban wants to raise awareness and build connections. She reported on her own research, which revealed major problems with the acceptance of queer life in rural areas.
Discrimination affects people of all social classes and ages and leads to queer life being hidden. The professor’s research team found that being queer in rural areas is still perceived as a deviation from an accepted lifestyle. For the professor, this came as a shock, as if time had stood still.
Contact points, meeting places, or even acceptance are foreign concepts for queer people in rural areas. Even in state capitals such as Wiesbaden, there are few opportunities for queer life. There is no comparison to Berlin or Cologne.
Village Pride for greater visibility of queer people in rural areas
In Berlin and numerous other cities in Germany, Christopher Street Day is an annual event by and for queer people. Village Pride is a variation of this parade, which is held once a year in the Rhine-Neckar district. As with CSD, the aim is to make queer, homosexual, transsexual, and intersex people more visible. The first event took place in 2020 and has since been held at a different location each year.
Overview of previous Dorfpride events:
- 2020 in Mühlhausen, a small community with 8,700 inhabitants.
- 2021 in Oftersheim with 12,300 inhabitants.
- 2022 in Ladenburg with around 12,600 inhabitants.
- 2024 in Wiesloch with around 27,500 inhabitants.
- 2024 in Ketsch with around 13,190 inhabitants
- 2025 in Zeutern with around 3,059 inhabitants.
Between 500 and 1,500 people took part in the parades on average, significantly fewer than in large cities. However, measured in terms of population figures, there was a growing willingness to recognize and celebrate queer life.
Allgäu leads the way with “Allgäu Pride”
In Allgäu, “Allgäu Pride” was founded as an important initiative that aims to make queer life in rural areas more visible and accepted. Surrounded by cheese, cows, and mountains, the aim is to promote issues such as equality and tolerance.
Everyone should see that Allgäu is about more than just living according to outdated traditions and customs.
The Allgäu Pride e.V. association was founded by a group of straight allies and queer people to raise awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community. The aim of the association is to give visibility to issues surrounding queer life and to engage in dialogue with people. In this way, the initiators hope to reduce uncertainty and prejudice.
Young and old alike take to the streets as part of the self-organized Allgäu Pride Week. Colorful and proud queer life is celebrated in streets and squares. The colorful week took place for the first time in Sonthofen in 2021.
In 2025, for the first time, there will be no Pride Week, but a Pride Month. From August 2 to September 6, 2025, the Allgäu region will be colorful, loud, and clear. A large demonstration march will crown the month of visibility.
Imitators in sight for more village pride
The example is catching on. In June 2025, CSD Verden e.V. was founded and is now sending a clear signal for more queer acceptance in rural areas.
In September 2024, a kind of Christopher Street Day took place in the municipality of Verden, attracting 500 participants. Nine months later, the initiators founded the first queer association in the region.
The association has a variety of goals:
- Educational opportunities for employers, companies, schools, and universities
- Collaboration with other queer initiatives from rural and urban areas
- Safe spaces for the queer community
- Political attention for issues related to LGBTQIA+
The Verden pioneers are supported by the association Queer Cities e.V. from Bremen. This enables nationwide cooperation with other queer groups and associations.
In the long term, the association not only wants to organize an annual CSD, but also to establish structures for everyday queer life. Events in existing premises, a queer meeting place, and also counseling centers and help with coming out are being considered.
The association is still accepting new members from the region and welcomes volunteers and people who want to promote diversity.
Conclusion: The country must become more colorful
LGBTQIA+ deserves more attention, even in rural areas. In the 21st century, it should no longer be possible for queer people to have to hide their lives and their love because it contradicts rural traditions. More and more initiatives and associations are being founded and are getting involved. This is necessary because the increasing migration of queer people from rural areas to urban regions is also economically damaging to rural regions. Although many milestones have already been achieved, there is still a lot of education, discussion, and initiative needed.