Pre- or after party: What will it be with the queer spaces?

LGBT+ venues in Berlin, Germany, are more and more often finding themselves in some kind of a liminal phase. From one side they are being threatened by right-wing-inspired bullies. It’s been one year since two consecutive homophobic attacks on the popular queer-bar in Berlin’s central neighbourhood. Luckily, no casualties. From another, an infamous digitalisation is influencing the way people meet and hook up in the last decade, causing bars and clubs to rapidly lose their allure in comparison to apps, which are ever more numerous and seemingly serve everyone’s needs.

Thus, some questions remained hanging in the air. The major being: do the queer venues stand a chance in the modern world that’s rapidly changing?

This photo project was conceived with an intention to capture the atmosphere of one popular meeting spot for Berlin’s queer community – Tipsy Bear bar, usually bustling and filled with music, sex, flirtation and dancing. But to see it not only in the party lights in the midst of its regular karaoke night, but also when its dance floor is still empty, the barman behind the bar idling waiting for the first guests, neon spotlights illuminating the darkness of the stage in vain, and an eerie silence reigning in the back corridors.

I was trying to imagine what would happen if the city were to lose such get-together spots. Where would the voices of the queer community be heard then? And what would the city and its residents lose as a whole?

Tipsy Bear acts as an important sanctuary for international immigrants, trans individuals, and diverse facets of the queer community. Known as a “no-frills” hideaway, the venue is celebrated for giving emerging and multidisciplinary queer artists a platform, providing opportunities for Drag Kings, DIY drag performers, and open-stage acts to hone their craft. The bar became a focal point for queer solidarity and local activism after its Pride flag was stolen and burned. The venue responded by hosting major street demonstrations against rising local queerphobia, turning acts of hatred into visible celebrations of love and acceptance.