Mülheim an der Ruhr - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Mülheim an der Ruhr has no queer bar or club scene of its own, but it does have a well-organised community with established places to go. The main hub is Treff.Queer, the queer centre in the Forum Mülheim in the city centre, with its own outside entrance on the Eppinghofer Straße and Dickswall side. It is run by SVLS e.V., which offers youth groups here under the name together Mülheim and counselling under the name Lebenslust.

A wide range of groups meet regularly at Treff.Queer: the Schwule Kumpel, a relaxed get-together for gay, bi and pansexual men who also organise outings; TIN*clusive, a group for trans*, inter* and non-binary adults; Queer Sohbet, a discussion circle for queer people with a migration background; and a queer political round table. Queer*Fit adds a volunteer-run sports session in a school gym in the city centre. The Lebenslust counselling centre at Friedrichstraße 20 advises lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and inter* people and their families, including on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

For men, Ruhrwellness on Sandstraße 154–162 is one of the better-known gay saunas in the Ruhr area. The venue for gay and bisexual men describes itself as a good 1,000 square metres in size, with a sauna area, a pool, an outdoor area of around 300 square metres, relaxation rooms and a bar serving food. It is open every day of the year, and its website has a dedicated section for trans and intersex people.

Anyone looking for bars and clubs heads to the neighbouring cities. Essen and Düsseldorf are a quick train ride from Mülheim's main station and have a much larger offering. Within Mülheim itself, the groups at Treff.Queer are the best way to get to know the community.