Findings 2024 - Berlin monitoring of anti-queer violence

Intro

The Berlin monitoring of anti-queer violence observes the prevalence and manifestations of LGBTIQ+ hostility in Berlin in an ongoing social science analysis. It aims to improve the available database and to raise awareness in society. Conducted on behalf of the Berlin State Office for Equal Treatment – Against Discrimination, it is also intended to provide a basis for the development of tailored advice and support services.

The third monitoring report, published in December 2024, extends the reporting on the basis of official and civil society data. As in previous issues, incident-related data from police statistics on politically motivated crime, procedural data from the public prosecutor’s office and statistics from civil society reporting bodies are evaluated. The report also includes a thematic focus on bi+ hostility, which uses a multi-method study to examine the impact of discrimination and violence on bi+ people and describes strategies for dealing with such experiences on an individual and collective level. Other topics examined in analyses and contributed articles include attacks on queer community institutions and orchestrated anti-trans hostility, and a service section provides information on contact points and services in Berlin and beyond.

Rising case numbers, constant patterns of threat? Berlin police focus on queer hate crime
Anti-queer offences being processed by the public prosecutor’s office
Attacks on organisations of the LGBTIQ+ community. New threats to civil society?
Growing LGBTIQ+ hostility in Berlin? Perspectives of the Berlin Registers
Experiencing and coping with bi+hostile discrimination and violence
Prevalence and dark field of bi+-hostile discrimination and violence in Berlin
Is Berlin the rainbow capital of a rainbow country? A European comparison of LGBTIQ+ hostility in Germany

Rising case numbers, constant patterns of threat? Berlin police focus on queer hate crime

The trend of continuously rising numbers of cases of queer-hostile offences and violence continues largely unabated. The number of offences recorded by the police reached an unprecedented high of 588 cases¹ in 2023.

The number of anti-queer offenses in Berlin reached a record high of 588 incidents in 2023. Violent offenses have also seen an increase, with 148 cases recorded in 2022—the highest number to date—and 127 cases reported in 2023, maintaining a significantly elevated level.
Berlin has traditionally accounted for a disproportionately high share of queer-hostile offenses in Germany. However, this relative share is gradually declining as Berlin’s reporting practices have set a precedent, leading other federal states to increasingly document such cases.

Significant numbers of cases have already been documented in the new subcategory “gender diversity,” introduced in 2022, highlighting the importance of expanding the criminal police reporting system to address trans* hostility. Insults, physical assaults, and incitement to hatred remain the most common forms of queer-hostile offenses. These crimes frequently occur in inner-city neighborhoods with vibrant queer communities, particularly in public spaces and on public transportation. Additionally, approximately one-fifth of the cases are connected to digital platforms.

The newly introduced sub-category “gender-related diversity,” added to the criminal police reporting service for politically motivated crimes in 2022, recorded a significant number of cases in 2023, with 175 incidents reported. The substantial year-on-year increase of 53.5% highlights the particular prevalence and importance of trans*-hostile offenses.
In 2023, the most frequently committed anti-queer offenses included insults (45.4%), (dangerous) bodily harm (21.0%), and incitement to hatred (7.1%).
Inner-city districts with high activity levels, such as Mitte, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, consistently report the highest numbers of anti-queer offenses. The strong correlation between the visibility of queer life and the occurrence of violence remains evident.
Nearly half of recorded anti-queer offenses in 2023 occurred in public spaces (44.6%) and on public transport (11.2%). However, more private or enclosed locations, such as residential buildings (20.7%), leisure facilities, shops, or restaurants (9.9%), and educational institutions (3.9%), also frequently served as crime scenes. Additionally, 17.9% of cases recorded by the police involved online offenses using the internet as the medium.
Queer-hostile crimes are reported on all days of the week. However, Berlin’s vibrant nightlife on weekends has consistently been associated with a significantly higher incidence of such crimes in recent years.

The predominance of male suspects in anti-queer offenses, particularly violent crimes, is striking, with 92.4% of suspects identified as male in 2023. While suspects span all age groups, individuals aged 30 to 39 are disproportionately represented. Queer-hostile offenses are frequently carried out spontaneously by individuals and occur within the context of everyday urban activities.

The suspects identified by the police in queer-hostile offenses are almost exclusively male, particularly in cases involving violent crimes. Queer-hostile offenses are not primarily a phenomenon of juvenile delinquency, as the suspects’ ages span the full range, from minors under 18 (12.7%) to individuals over 60 (12.1%). The most represented age group is those between 30 and 39 years old, accounting for 21.7% of suspects.
These offenses are frequently committed by individuals in the context of everyday life (58.5%). Although more coordinated and jointly executed crimes do occur, they are not the typical pattern of queer-hostile incidents in Berlin.
Many of the identified suspects were not encountering the police for the first time. A significant majority (78.0%) had prior records with law enforcement. In many cases, this prior knowledge related to general criminal activities (47.1%). However, for nearly a third of suspects (30.9%), it also or exclusively involved prior records in state security-related crimes, including politically motivated offenses.

The majority of anti-queer acts of violence are directed at so-called random victims, meaning individuals with no prior personal connection to the perpetrator. Among the victims, males are notably overrepresented, though to a slightly lesser extent than among the suspects. The gender distribution between male and female victims has remained relatively stable, but the proportion of victims identified as diverse, while still quantitatively small, is steadily increasing.

The majority of victims of queer-hostile violence are classified by the police as “accidental victims,” meaning there was no prior relationship between the suspect and the victim, and the offense occurred between strangers. In contrast, non-violent offenses show a different pattern, with victims often being specifically targeted. This is partly due to crimes directed at “targets” such as individuals associated with “police, state and political parties” or “religious communities”.
Males are disproportionately represented among the victims of anti-queer offenses recorded by the police. In recent years, their share has consistently exceeded seventy percent, reaching 71.3% in 2023. In comparison, the proportion of female victims is significantly lower, at 23.6% in 2023. The percentage of transgender individuals affected by queer-hostile offenses remains relatively small but has steadily increased over recent years, rising from 1.3% in 2021 to 2.0% in 2022 and 3.3% in 2023. Victims are most frequently registered in the age group between 21 and under 40 years old.

Anti-queer offences being processed by the public prosecutor’s office

In 2023, the Berlin public prosecutor’s office registered and handled a record number of offenses against sexual orientation, with 791 new cases filed that year alone. The number of reported anti-queer crimes has shown a clear upward trend in recent years, albeit one that progresses in distinct stages rather than uniformly.

In 2023, a record 791 proceedings were recorded, marking the highest number since the public prosecutor’s office began tracking offenses against sexual orientation in 2018. This represents a 31.2% increase compared to the 603 proceedings reported in 2022.
The overall trend in the number of proceedings conducted by the public prosecutor’s office in recent years reveals a gradual, staircase-like pattern, with periods of rising case numbers alternating with phases of stability. Despite these fluctuations, the data indicates a clear upward trajectory over time.
Since the start of record-keeping, the majority of public prosecution proceedings have been so-called Js proceedings—cases in which individual suspects have been identified and are therefore known. However, a substantial number of cases also involve unidentified suspects. In 2023, 437 cases involved identified suspects, while 354 cases remained unsolved with unknown suspects.

The public prosecutor’s office handles numerous anti-queer insults (41.7% of all cases), but also a considerable number of offences of bodily harm (2022: 29.4%, 2023: 19.8%) and threats (11.9%)

Insults are the most common primary offense (counting or leading offense) in anti-queer cases, accounting for over 40% of all proceedings (2022: 41.3%; 2023: 41.7%).
However, anti-queer offenses are not limited to expressive acts such as insults. Violent crimes also make up a significant portion of cases handled by the public prosecutor’s office. In 2022, simple bodily harm (§ 223 StGB) and grievous bodily harm (§ 224 StGB) together accounted for 29.4% of proceedings, representing 177 cases. In 2023, these offenses constituted 19.8% of cases, with a total of 157 proceedings. Specifically, simple bodily harm made up 10.7% of cases in 2023, while grievous bodily harm accounted for an additional 9.1%.

Individuals accused of queer-hostile offenses are predominantly male adults under the age of 40. A similar, though slightly less pronounced, pattern is observed among the victims. In 2022 and 2023, a total of 1,730 victims were identified by the public prosecutor’s office, the majority of whom were also male and under 40 years old.

A total of 929 suspects were investigated in 2022 and 2023 combined, the majority of whom were male (85.3%) and adults (72.8%). Most belonged to age groups under 40, making young men the typical perpetrators of offenses related to sexual orientation prosecuted by the public prosecutor’s office.
In the same period, 1,730 victims were recorded. They were also predominantly male (66.3%) and often between the ages of 21 and 30 (30.4%).
Proceedings against unknown perpetrators were largely discontinued after investigations were completed (82.2%). For cases where the accused were identified, 40.7% of proceedings were discontinued, and 13.2% were transferred to another department or public prosecutor’s office. Summary penalty orders were applied for in 16.4% of cases, 13.5% were combined with other proceedings, and in just over 100 cases (14.1%), the Berlin public prosecutor’s office was able to bring charges against the accused.

Attacks on organisations of the LGBTIQ+ community. New threats to civil society?

In addition to attacks on individuals, queer-hostile violence in Berlin also targets queer institutions and spaces, such as clubs, cafés, educational facilities, advice centers, events, festivals, and parades. While no systematic documentation exists, surveys indicate that many organizations have experienced such incidents at varying levels of severity. These range from “joking” or threatening phone calls to property damage and physical attacks. Responding to these incidents often places a significant additional burden on affected organizations and can result in financial losses and other damages.

Queer organizations report instances of homophobic abuse through phone calls and messages. To cope with these micro-attacks, staff often rely on individual filtering and selective engagement as protective mechanisms. However, due to the effort involved, there is sometimes hesitation to file police reports.
Hate campaigns represent a “tactic of attrition” against Berlin’s queer organizations, specifically targeting their financial support. These targeted attacks, both in the media and public spaces, create uncertainty among employees and lead to a significantly increased workload due to the need for “shitstorm management. »
Recurring property damage and even severe attacks have a profound impact on the subjective sense of security for affected organizations. These incidents necessitate emotional support for employees and result in additional financial and time burdens for developing and implementing security concepts.
The visibility of queer organizations in physical spaces can also expose their employees to a heightened risk of personal assaults. Workplace violence necessitates not only emotional support but also the deployment of additional staff through double shifts, further increasing operational costs.

Berlin offers various funding and support programs for institutions affected by hate violence. In addition, community-based support and neighborhood solidarity often address the specific needs of these institutions in a way that is closely aligned with their everyday realities. Accessible counseling and support services, along with assistance in developing comprehensive protection strategies, remain crucial requirements.

In order to overcome barriers to applying for financial aid or taking legal action, concrete documentation of messages with LGBTIQ+-hostile content (e.g. screenshots) is often required.
Experiences with the Berlin police vary: From the point of view of the organisations, it is helpful to have the telephone numbers of the direct contact persons at hand or to use the online reporting option.
The mobile counselling service against right-wing extremism supports queer facilities in the creation of specific protection and security concepts tailored to the respective circumstances. These include both behavioural and structural measures.
Measures to protect the facility and employees include, for example, avoiding visibility in the digital space by using clear names, blocking addresses in accordance with Section 51 of the Federal Registration Act (BMG), installing cameras and security glass, as well as self-organised joint trips home and double shifts.
The following financial support options exist:
1. CURA victim fund for material damage,
2. Co-operation project counter-legal protection for lawyers’ fees and legal costs,
3. Fund to support victims of political-extremist violence (victim protection field of action) for structural security measures.
4. Solidarity campaigns and neighbourhood support make an important contribution to overcoming targeted damage to property, serious attacks and physical violence against employees.

Growing LGBTIQ+ hostility in Berlin? Perspectives of the Berlin Registers

In addition to official data, documentation from civil society organizations serves as an essential resource for evaluating queer-hostile violence in Berlin. However, these organizations currently lack a coordinated approach and standardized criteria for recording and documenting such incidents. The Berlin registers, however, incorporate not only their own research but also information from other sources, including queer organizations, and have developed significant expertise in this area. In 2023, the registers documented a record 466 queer-hostile incidents. According to their analysis, these incidents are often more severe than those from other categories, frequently involving direct “attacks.”

The number of LGBTIQ–hostile incidents documented by the Berlin registers reached an unprecedented peak in 2023, following sharp increases in previous years. A total of 466 incidents were recorded in 2023 alone.
LGBTIQ-hostile incidents differ significantly in nature from other types of incidents recorded in the registers. They are typically much more severe, with 40.5% classified as attacks and an additional 26.2% involving threats, insults, or harassment.

The civil society data collected by the registers complements various aspects of police situation reports. According to the registers, queer-hostile violence often correlates with publicly visible queer life in the city, leading to noticeable concentrations at specific times and in particular areas, especially in inner-city neighborhoods in western Berlin. While males are frequently identified as perpetrators, they are also significantly represented among those who report being affected by such incidents.

LGBTIQ–hostile incidents are more strongly linked to visibility and active presence in public spaces compared to other incidents documented by the registers. These incidents are more likely to occur during the summer months, on weekends, and in the late evening hours, patterns that are less pronounced or absent for other types of incidents. While LGBTIQ-hostile incidents can happen anywhere, they are more concentrated in specific regions compared to other documented incidents. Higher numbers of incidents are observed in a select group of inner-city areas, particularly in the western part of the city. The districts of Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and Neukölln show higher overall numbers of incidents, with the neighborhoods of Neukölln-Nord, Mitte, and Schöneberg-Nord being particularly affected.
Men constitute the vast majority (88%) of perpetrators in LGBTIQ*-hostile incidents but are also overrepresented among the victims. Women, on the other hand, make up a smaller proportion of perpetrators but account for nearly a quarter of those affected. Diverse and non-binary individuals represent a significant proportion of those affected but are almost absent among the identified perpetrators.

Experiencing and coping with bi+hostile discrimination and violence

Bi+ individuals represent a significant group within the rainbow spectrum, yet their identities, orientations, and experiences are frequently overlooked. This marginalization manifests in two key ways: denial of their existence and devaluation of their experiences, forming the dual face of bi+ hostility in Berlin. Bi+ individuals face discrimination and violence across all areas of society, including within queer communities. Specific forms of bi+ hostility often intersect with other types of queer hostility, such as when bi+ individuals in same-sex relationships are also subjected to homophobia or lesbophobia.

Violence against bi+ individuals can be examined through the concepts of biphobia, bi+ hostility, and institutionalized monosexuality, which reflect significant dimensions of the experiences shared by interviewees.
Invisibility and denial on the one hand, and stigmatization and negative stereotyping on the other, intersect and solidify as a central feature of bi+ hostility.
The presence of bi+ hostility within queer communities, and its internalization by bi+ individuals themselves, further shapes the understanding and experiences of those affected.
Bi+ erasure, encompassing the dethematisation, denial, ignorance, reinterpretation, and invisibility of bi+ identities, is a defining aspect of bi+ hostility and profoundly impacts the lives of those experiencing it.

Bi+ hostility manifests in various forms and expressions. Alongside denial and misjudgment, bi+ individuals often face insults, assaults, and stereotypes, such as being labeled promiscuous or hypersexualized—a bias that disproportionately affects those perceived as female. Internalized bi+ hostility, where individuals adopt stigmatizing attitudes and experience self-doubt about their orientation (often referred to as impostor syndrome), is another significant challenge. Particularly distressing are experiences of bi+ hostility within queer communities, as they conflict with expectations of belonging and the notion of safe spaces.

Bi+ hostility manifests itself in many different ways and is experienced in the form of bi-erasure, hypersexualisation and sexualised violence, insults and hostility, physical assaults and internalised bi+ hostility.
(Over-)sexualisation, especially of female bi+ sexuality, is widespread and is associated with high rates of sexual violence among bi+ people.
Insults and hostility, especially in public, are experienced by many bi+ people and a recently increasing trend is described. While other queer-hostile motives are often at the forefront, there are also incidents that clearly relate to the recognisable bi+ identity of those affected.
Physical attacks are also part of the experience of bi+ hostility, albeit less frequently than trans* hostility, for example. Those affected observe an insecurity in the behaviour of other people, which can be triggered by coming out, for example, and may contribute to an increased tendency towards violence.
The internalisation of bi+-hostile thought patterns and stereotypes manifests itself, for example, in bi+ people questioning their own identity and that of other bi+ people and internalising patterns of perception that contribute to bi+ erasure.
Bi+ hostility is addressed in various contexts in the interviews conducted for the study, with a focus on queer and LGBTIQ+ communities, public spaces and local public transport, personal relationships and dating, as well as medical and therapeutic contexts.
Many reports refer to bi+ hostility in queer communities. Experiences of bi+ erasure, discrimination and violence in such contexts can be perceived as particularly drastic by bi+ people and lead to withdrawal from queer spaces.

Bi+ hostility takes many forms and occurs in a variety of contexts. While it is often associated with the public sphere, it extends far beyond this. Intimate and private situations, such as dating, romantic relationships, and interactions with psychotherapeutic services, can also be marked by bi+ hostility. Experiences of devaluation can hinder personal development, undermine individual well-being, and delay a self-determined coming out process. Queer counseling and support centers in Berlin are well-known and frequently accessed within the community. However, self-help groups and activism often serve as primary sources of support and empowerment for many bi+ individuals.

Public spaces and local public transport are also places where bi+ people experience attacks such as hostility, insults and physical violence and consequently often have a limited sense of safety. Those affected consider the motivation for attacks on them to be both bi+-hostile and generally queer-hostile.
In the context of dating and romantic relationships, bi+ people experience rejection, stigmatisation and even physical violence in connection with coming out and other thematisations of their identity, some of which they attribute to a profound insecurity in their respective counterparts.
Experiences with bi+ erasure in the context of psychotherapy are also reported; prejudices and a lack of sensitisation among therapists make it difficult for those affected to access professional therapeutic treatment.
Experiences with bi+ hostility make it difficult to deal openly and confidently with one’s own bi+ identity; coming out often occurs late and is accompanied by complex emotions and considerations. The majority of the interviewees have the feeling that they are better able to deal with bi+-hostile incidents and assaults if they position themselves confidently as bi+.
Activism and support groups are important factors that can support bi+ people in dealing with discrimination and violence and strengthen their social and psychological resources. Informal connections and dialogue groups online and offline play an important role here, which many of those affected have used in different phases of their biography.
The Berlin network of civil society reporting and advice centres is well known and many people have already made use of its services. A contact point that comes from the bi+ community and knows the specific issues and needs of bi+ people has so far been a desideratum for many. There are different perspectives on the police among bi+ people, as there are in the queer community as a whole.

Prevalence and dark field of bi+-hostile discrimination and violence in Berlin

This edition of the monitoring report on queer-hostile violence includes a standardized survey of bi+ individuals about their experiences of discrimination and violence in Berlin. Most respondents reside in Berlin, and their average age is younger than that of the general Berlin population. The respondents also have a higher level of education compared to the city’s overall population, while the proportion identifying as cis-male is relatively low.

The majority of respondents (91.2%) reside in Berlin, with only a small number coming from other major cities and even fewer from small towns or rural areas.
The sample is, on average, younger than Berlin’s overall population. Nearly two-thirds (64.0%) of respondents are under the age of 35, compared to approximately 40% of the general Berlin population. Since no children or adolescents participated in the survey, the discrepancy is particularly pronounced within the 18 to under-35 age group.
Respondents also demonstrate a noticeably higher level of formal education compared to Berlin’s overall population. Four-fifths (80.8%) have either a higher education entrance qualification or a university degree, whereas this proportion is roughly half among the city’s general population.
Regarding gender identity, two-fifths (43.1%) identified as cis-female, with approximately one-quarter each identifying as non-binary (26.7%) or queer (24.1%). Only a small percentage (16.4%) identified as cis-male. Respondents were explicitly allowed to select multiple identities.
In terms of sexual orientation, the majority (80.0%) identified as bisexual, while a significant proportion also identified as queer (44.0%) or pansexual (33.6%). Multiple responses were permitted.

Bi+ individuals value the relatively extensive opportunities for open self-expression that Berlin offers. However, the degree of freedom varies significantly across different social contexts and is most prominent in private spaces and queer communities. Many bi+ individuals believe they are perceived as queer by others and, as a result, face the risks often associated with such visibility. While they may not always feel fully recognized within queer spaces, these contexts remain essential in shaping their lives and frequently serve as platforms for their active engagement and advocacy.

Berlin provides many bi+ individuals with opportunities to live openly regarding their sexual orientation. Over four-fifths of respondents (83.2%) report living completely or mostly openly. This aligns with Berlin’s self-image as a “rainbow capital” and reflects a tangible reality for many bi+ people.
The degree of openness and self-awareness regarding bi+ identity varies significantly across different areas of life. Close circles of friends and family, as well as queer spaces, often provide substantial opportunities for self-expression. However, many bi+ individuals report being less open about their identity in workplaces, educational settings, leisure activities, or their neighborhoods.
A significant portion of respondents believe they are visibly identifiable as queer to others. For more than a quarter (28%), this is almost always the case, a proportion comparable to that of trans* individuals. This visibility exposes bi+ individuals to the risks of assault, discrimination, and violence often associated with being visibly queer.
Connections to queer structures play an important role in the lives of many bi+ individuals. Over half of respondents (56.8%) consider such connections to be (very) important, and a third (32.8%) report frequent involvement in LGBTIQ+ or bi+ advocacy. However, the strong identification with the queer community—particularly emphasized in qualitative interviews—often contrasts with ambivalent experiences of not being fully recognized as bi+ within these spaces.

While many bi+ individuals report feeling relatively safe in Berlin, concerns about the risk of queer-hostile attacks are common. Half of the respondents indicated that they think about these risks intensely or very intensely. Consequently, many feel compelled to modify their behavior by exercising caution, practicing restraint, or adopting an inconspicuous appearance. This sense of vulnerability contributes to widespread feelings of not belonging and invisibility, preventing individuals from fully expressing their identities.

The overall subjective sense of safety among bi+ individuals in Berlin is relatively positive. Approximately half of the respondents feel very safe (8.0%) or safe (40.0%) from queer-hostile attacks in the city. By contrast, fewer respondents feel rather unsafe (15.2%) or not safe at all (6.4%).
Nonetheless, concerns about the risk of queer-hostile attacks are significant. Over half of the respondents (51.2%) reported being either strongly (36.8%) or very strongly (14.4%) preoccupied with the possibility of such incidents. These concerns often overlap with fears of explicitly bi+-hostile attacks, although the latter are somewhat less common. A third of respondents (34.2%) expressed strong or very strong concerns about bi+-specific hostility.
These fears have tangible behavioral impacts. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63.2%) reported being vigilant about their surroundings. Many are cautious when showing affection in public (40.0%), choose less conspicuous clothing (37.6%), or hide rainbow accessories and identifiable symbols (36.0%).
Among the negative experiences linked to being bi+, feelings of invisibility and exclusion are particularly widespread. Two-fifths of respondents (39.2%) reported often or very often experiencing such feelings, with nearly all respondents (88.0%) reporting them at least occasionally.
Bi+ hostility, as experienced subjectively, often intersects with other forms of discrimination. A significant proportion of respondents reported experiencing sexism and misogyny either very frequently (45.6%) or occasionally (25.6%).

A significant number of bi+ individuals have experienced assaults: half of those surveyed (51.2%) reported such incidents within the past five years, and more than a third (39.2%) in just the last twelve months. Bi+ individuals face both queer-hostile and bi+-specific assaults, with the former being more prevalent. These acts almost always involve derogatory comments and insults, often accompanied by threats or physical attacks. Sexualized harassment or accusations also play a notable role. Public spaces are the most common settings for these assaults, as cited by nearly all respondents. However, more than half also identified the digital space as a site of such incidents, while a minority reported experiencing hostility even in queer spaces.

Half of the bi+ individuals surveyed (51.2%) reported experiencing queer-hostile attacks within the last five years, with well over a third (39.2%) affected in the past twelve months alone.
One-fifth of these assaults (21.9%) were explicitly bi+-hostile, meaning that 11.2% of all respondents indicated they had been subjected to specifically bi+-hostile attacks within the last five years. Bi+ individuals face violence in two distinct ways: through general queer-hostile assaults and through explicitly bi+-hostile attacks. From the perspective of those affected, the specific motivations of the perpetrators are often less significant than the impact of being targeted as a bi+ person.
Among respondents who had experienced assaults, nearly all reported—at least as infrequent occurrences—experiencing derogatory remarks, staring, and slander (95.4%), as well as insults, verbal threats, or physical threats (81.3%).
The high prevalence of sexualized harassment among bi+ individuals subjected to assaults reflects a broader pattern of LGBTIQ+ hostility. The disproportionate number of bi+ individuals who report not only rare (28.1%) but frequent (31.3%) or occasional (15.6%) experiences of sexualized harassment underscores their particularly elevated risk.
Public spaces, such as streets, parks, and squares (87.6%), along with local public transport (78.1%), are by far the most frequently mentioned locations—at least occasionally—where such incidents occur. These relatively unstructured and informal settings, often involving fleeting encounters, emerge as especially common contexts for assaults against bi+ individuals.
Beyond physical public spaces, the internet and social media are also significant arenas for such incidents, cited by more than half of affected respondents (54.7%) as occurring at least occasionally.
While queer spaces are not inherently unsafe for bi+ individuals, it is noteworthy that a significant proportion of those affected by assaults also report negative experiences in these spaces. Specifically, one in four respondents reported such incidents either frequently (9.4%) or occasionally (15.6%).

Victims of bi+-hostile assaults often have clear evidence of the perpetrator’s hostile intent, such as explicit insults, which are reported in three-quarters of cases. Bi+ individuals experience both queer-hostile and specifically bi+-hostile attacks, with the two frequently overlapping. These anti-queer motivations are often compounded by other factors, particularly sexism and misogyny.

The vast majority of individuals affected by LGBTIQ+-hostile or bi+-hostile attacks can provide clear evidence that these incidents are not random but driven by hostile motives and attitudes. Three-quarters (75%) of incidents that left particularly lasting impressions involved LGBTIQ+-hostile verbal abuse.
Assaults against bi+ individuals are motivated by both general LGBTIQ+-hostility and specifically bi+-hostile attitudes, with these factors often overlapping in daily life. One-tenth of all respondents (11.2%) reported experiencing specifically bi+-hostile attacks, corresponding to one-fifth (21.9%) of those who experienced any assault. By comparison, approximately twice as many bi+ respondents—one-fifth of all participants (20.8%) and two-fifths of those affected by assaults (40.6%)—reported being perceived as lesbian or gay.
In nearly two-thirds of all incidents (62.5%), victims noted that factors beyond anti-LGBTIQ+ motives played a role. Sexist and misogynistic devaluations were particularly significant, mentioned by half of those affected (51.6%). Other aspects of gender identity were also frequently cited, while other forms of discrimination, such as racism, anti-Semitism, classism, or ableism, were reported less commonly.

Is Berlin the rainbow capital of a rainbow country? A European comparison of LGBTIQ+ hostility in Germany

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights makes important contributions to the data-based monitoring of anti-queer discrimination and violence. Almost 100,000 people took part in the third wave of its LGBTIQ survey in 2023. The survey shows that LGBTIQ people in Germany are often able to live more openly than in other parts of the European Union. Experiences of discrimination are nevertheless similarly widespread in Germany as in the EU, but have declined in recent years – as they have in the EU.The LGBTIQ Survey of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has now been implemented for the third time. The last wave of the survey was conducted in 2023. Almost 100,000 people from the EU member states took part in the survey.

The EU-wide nature of the survey allows data-based comparisons of the situation in Germany with other EU countries and with the EU average.
The openness of life as an LGBTIQ person is currently much more pronounced in Germany than the EU average. In Germany, 60% of respondents stated that they live largely openly, compared to an EU average of only 51%.
Experiences of discrimination due to being LGBTIQ are just as widespread in Germany as the EU average. In 2023, over a third of respondents (Germany: 38%, EU: 37%) stated that they had experienced discrimination in at least one area of life in the year prior to the survey.
Experiences of discrimination have declined in recent years, both on average in the EU and in Germany – and to a similar extent. While 44% of respondents from Germany reported such experiences in 2019, the figure was 37% in 2023.

LGBTIQ individuals in Germany report experiences of harassment and violence slightly more frequently than the EU average. These incidents have increased and become more widespread compared to the previous survey conducted in 2019. Particularly concerning are the negative experiences within the school system, such as bullying, threats, and harm, with 70% of respondents currently reporting such incidents—a significant rise since the last survey.

Respondents from Germany report experiencing harassment and violence due to being LGBTIQ slightly more often than the EU average. The differences, however, remain moderate. Over half of respondents reported harassment within the last year (Germany: 57%, EU: 54%). Additionally, significantly more than one in ten respondents stated that they had been physically or sexually assaulted in the past five years because of their LGBTIQ identity (Germany: 16%, EU: 13%).
In contrast to the declining rates of discrimination, experiences of harassment and violence have become more widespread in recent years, both in Germany and across the EU. In Germany, a calculated increase of 23.1% is observed for the period between 2019 and 2023.
The school sector stands out particularly in both Germany and the EU average. Experiences of bullying, threats, and physical harm are not only highly prevalent but have also risen significantly in recent years. In 2023, more than two-thirds of respondents (Germany: 70%, EU: 67%) reported such negative experiences in this context.

In consultation with the Berlin State Office of Criminal Investigation, a modified query system has been implemented that reflects the actual number of recorded incidents without multiple counts by naming subject areas. The case numbers in the monitoring therefore deviate in part from those published by the Berlin police. ↩︎