Gelsenkirchen - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Gelsenkirchen has no gay bar, queer club or gay sauna of its own. Queer life in the city is organised mainly through two places that share one address on Wildenbruchstraße in the city centre.

The first is together Gelsenkirchen, a youth centre for lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, trans, inter and non-binary young people aged fourteen to twenty-six. It is run by SVLS e.V., a non-profit association that also operates together centres in Essen, Mülheim, Krefeld, Kleve, Wesel and Geldern. Young people come here to hang out, take part in trips and workshops, or get support in difficult situations. There is a monthly newcomers' day and a come-in service for anyone who finds the first step through the door hard.

The second is Lebenslust Gelsenkirchen, the adult branch of the same association. It offers counselling for LGBTQ+ people and hosts regular groups: Rainbow Station, a monthly get-together for gay and bisexual men; Farbenfroh 25+, a meeting point for queer adults; and a Sunday breakfast open to all ages.

For HIV and STI testing and advice, the city's public health office on Kurt-Schumacher-Straße is the local contact point. The city also has an action plan to promote acceptance of sexual and gender diversity, coordinated by its equality office.

For specialised counselling, people from Gelsenkirchen can turn to Rosa Strippe in neighbouring Bochum. The centre on Kortumstraße provides psychosocial counselling for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, a crisis and coming-out helpline, groups and youth work. Essen, also next door, has its own together youth centre on Kleine Stoppenberger Straße.