Code of Conduct at the Queer Center Kassel

Last reviewed in March and April 2026

In the best-case scenario, various people with different perspectives and experiences come together at the Queer Center Kassel to share their thoughts. To ensure that everyone’s time together is as pleasant as possible, we have developed the following rules for our interactions. These rules apply to members and visitors as well as to staff and volunteers at the Queer Center. These rules are reviewed and updated regularly. This process can be initiated both internally and by external individuals.

We are all responsible for our shared well-being.

No place is perfect for everyone all the time. Nevertheless, we want to treat one another as respectfully and constructively as possible.

It goes without saying that we should keep the spaces clean and tidy and leave the center in at least the same condition as we found it.

We acknowledge and reflect on the individual and structural power dynamics and hierarchies among ourselves, as well as in relation to the center’s structures. We take responsibility for our actions and words.

We ensure that neither our actions and words nor those of our group within the context of the Queer Center jeopardize the center’s existence.

We reflect on our needs and wants and communicate them clearly to check whether they can be met by those present or by the Queer Center. It is particularly important to handle triggers and other interpersonal barriers sensitively and constructively. However, we do NOT expect (other) marginalized people to educate us about their experiences and reality without prior discussion.

We speak to one another attentively and mindfully and reflect on our speech patterns. We recognize that no form of communication is immune to misunderstanding and strive to understand those we interact with.

We want to be understanding and patient with one another.

We meet people where they are. That means we don’t expect each other to have prior knowledge. We are all in a constant process of learning and unlearning that is never complete. But we also don’t have to put up with everything.

People have different abilities, energy levels, and capacities. We do not want to judge that. This also means that we all need different amounts of time for certain things.

We all make unintentional mistakes sometimes. Mistakes may and should be pointed out respectfully.  If we hurt people, we take responsibility for it.  

We respect self-identifications.  We cannot tell people’s identities (e.g., gender, disability) just by looking at them, so we respect their self-identifications. This includes speaking sensitively about and with one another and respecting pronouns and names. We therefore appreciate it when people introduce themselves by name and pronoun.

We respect other people's boundaries.

No means no; only an informed yes means yes.

Our interactions are always based on consent and mutual agreement. This applies to any physical contact, including touching clothing, hair, assistive devices, etc. We also ask for permission before touching personal belongings whenever possible.

Emotional boundaries are important and are discussed. Before bringing up sensitive topics, we ask the other person if they are able and willing to deal with them at that moment.  

We also pay attention to consent when flirting. We can ask whether flirting is desired to be sure. The same applies to our tone of voice (e.g., not being overly friendly unless agreed upon beforehand).

We do not comment on people’s bodies or appearance without being asked. We ask beforehand whether people want to receive compliments.

Nudity also requires consent. We discuss nudity with one another. Events involving nudity must announce this at the door at the latest.

We do not want to use verbal or physical violence. Kink and play are welcome.

Play is agreed upon together beforehand and throughout. Everyone involved has fun.  
With violence, at least one person is not having fun (anymore).

We want to treat each other with respect, appreciation, and kindness. Any form of violence, including verbal violence (e.g., belittling, insults, yelling, manipulation, threats, ...) has no place at the Queer Center.

Important! In the event that violence occurs at the Queer Center, there is an awareness policy, a guide for volunteers, and a guide for the Awareness Working Group.

We take a responsibility for harm and conflicts.

There is no place for violence at the Queer Center. Reports of injuries and/or conflicts take precedence over the scheduled program.

In the event of physical injuries (e.g., cuts, fractures, etc.), we will call 112 quickly if we are unable to provide proper care by ourselves. If we treat a physical injury using items from the first-aid kit, we report to the staff what we have taken from the kit so that the supplies can be restocked.  

If harm, misunderstandings, or conflicts arise, we first strive to resolve them without involving the in-house security service or the police. To this end, we have an awareness concept, a guide for volunteers, and a guide for the Awareness Working Group.

If we are made aware that we have hurt others, we listen actively and take responsibility for our actions and words. An awareness person can be helpful when dealing with emotional hurt and/or conflicts.

We adhere to agreements regarding what stays within the room and what may leave the room.

We do not share information that people have told us in confidence.

We avoid outing others. Without prior agreement, we do not disclose who we met at the Queer Center, in which group we met them, or what names and pronouns they used there.

We only share other people’s contact information (e.g., phone numbers or social media usernames) if they have given their explicit consent.

We only take photos, videos, and audio recordings after consulting with everyone who may be recognizable in them. If the recordings are to be shown or published outside the room, this will be discussed in advance. Recordings will only be published if everyone agrees, and then only within the agreed-upon scope (e.g., photos that were agreed to be sent to a Messenger group will not also be posted on social media).

We only bring animals after prior agreement.

This also includes service animals. We recognize that accessibility needs can sometimes conflict with one another. There are various reasons why people cannot be around animals, such as fears or allergies.

If a person needs or wants to bring an animal, this must be agreed upon in advance. It must also be agreed upon who will remove the animal hair afterward. The Queer Center has an allergy-friendly vacuum cleaner for this purpose.

If animals are present at the Queer Center, this will be announced in advance.

We treat people under the age of 18 with responsibility and care.

In general, the activities at Queer Center Kassel are specifically aimed at people 18 and older. We are not a general “18+” space, but we do not center the needs of children or youth explicitly. Different age restrictions apply to different events.

When people under the age of 18 are present, we adhere to the Youth Protection Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Children. This means that we do not provide alcohol, e-cigarettes, or other substances to people under the age of 18. Likewise, we do not encourage sexual or romantic relationships between people under and over the age of 18. There is no place for grooming at the Queer Center Kassel.

For any recordings of persons under 18, written consent from legal guardians is additionally required.

We want to handle our own consumption behavior responsibly.

No illegal substances may be consumed at the Queer Center. The Queer Center is also a smoke-free space. Neither e-cigarettes, joints, hookahs, pipes, nor other smoking materials (e.g., incense sticks) are permitted. Both rules are important because we risk losing our premises if they are violated. The Queer Center cannot be a “safe use” site.

Alcohol may only be consumed at the Queer Centers by prior agreement. A sign at the entrance to the center will indicate whether alcohol is currently being consumed in our Space.

We do not visit the Queer Centers if we are heavily under the influence of mind-altering substances.

We are responsible for our actions and words even if we are under the (mild) influence of mind-altering substances.

We are committed to treating one another in a way that is as non-discriminatory and critical of discrimination as possible.

We have all been socialized in a discriminatory society. Confronting this reality is an ongoing process of unlearning that is never fully complete. We want to be mindful of this and examine our own privileges, biases, and actions.

When dealing with discrimination, we keep in mind that explanations are not justifications. The reasons why discrimination occurs are therefore no justification for discriminatory behavior.

Furthermore, intentions are not the same as effects—even if people have good intentions, the effect can be discriminatory and hurtful.

We do not doubt people’s experiences of discrimination—this also applies to discrimination that occurs within the Queer Center. When we observe a discriminatory situation, we try to act in solidarity. This includes asking the people affected how we can best do so.

There are intersections between different forms of discrimination. Many people are affected by multiple forms of discrimination simultaneously. For example, Black women experience racism and sexism (this is also referred to as misogynoir), and trans* women experience sexism and transmisia (the term for this is transmisogyny—these concepts can overlap and form transmisogynoir)

At the Queer Center we want to create safer spaces for people who are multiply marginalized. For this purpose, some events are open only to specific groups of people.

Here is an alphabetical and incomplete list of forms of discrimination:

Ableism (discrimination against disabled, mad and chronically ill people)   
Adultism(discrimination against young people)  
Ageism (discrimination against older people)  
Anti-Muslim racism (discrimination against Muslims and people perceived as Muslim)  
Anti-Semitism (discrimination against Jews and people perceived as Jewish)  
Anti-sex worker bias (discrimination against sex workers)  
Anti-Slavism (discrimination against Eastern Europeans and people perceived as Eastern European)  
Classism (discrimination based on socioeconomic status)  
Colorism (discrimination against dark[er]-skinned people)  
Fatphobia (discrimination against fat people)  
Gadjérassism/Antiziganism (discrimination against Sinti and Roma)  
Intersexism (discrimination against intersex people)  
Lookism (discrimination against people who do not conform to or conform less to beauty standards)  
Misogyny (discrimination against women & femmes)  
Misogynoir (discrimination against Black women and femmes)  
Queermisia (discrimination against queer people and ways of life)
Racism (discrimination against Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color)  
Sexism (discrimination against women, femmes, and queer people)  
Transmisia (discrimination against trans people)  
Transmisogyny (discrimination against trans women and femmes)  
Xenophobia (discrimination against people based on an attributed “foreignness”)