Tips and events for the queer community

Oktoberfest stands for tolerance, respect and diversity

The largest folk festival in the world stands for open-mindedness, tolerance and diversity. The City of Munich is committed to these values and expressly welcomes LGBTIQ* people to the Oktoberfest and fights against any form of discrimination. At the last Oktoberfest in 2019, the state capital Munich set an example and hoisted two rainbow flags at the entrance.

"More than any other event, the Oktoberfest stands for Munich's motto 'live and let live'. Two men kissing or women holding hands are completely normal there. Tolerance is an essential unit of measurement for the peacefulness of the Oktoberfest," said Oktoberfest boss Clemens Baumgärtner.

Events for the community at the Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest has been a meeting place for the LGBTIQ* community for many years. Some of the events have already achieved cult status and take place again in 2023. These are the highlights:

September 17, 2023 from 9 am: Gay-Sunday at the Bräurosl
The classic: More than 40 years ago, the gay Munich Lions Club (MLC) created the Gay-Sunday. Every first Sunday of the Oktoberfest, the gay and lesbian community meets all day in the Bräurosl tent. For the Oktoberfest meeting, the association reserves enough tickets for the MLC balcony in the festival tent (these ticket holders get exclusive access). The rest of the tent is of course free to enter, but is predominantly visited by the LGBTIQ* community.

September 18, 2023 from 3 pm: RoslMontag at the Bräurosl
Since it often gets quite crowded on Gay-Sunday, there is an unofficial, free gay get-together at Bräurosl one day later - "RoslMontag". Gays and lesbians once again come together casually. Meeting places for all LGBTIQ* are the beer garden of the Bräurosl (to the right of the main entrance) and the back part in the beer tent (under the balcony). There is no reservation. More info at https://www.rosawiesn.de/.

September 24, 2023: ProudWiesn in the Armbrustschützen tent
The ProudWiesn is a fairly new date for the community, which two LGTBIQ* groups of companies (from BMW and Diversity Tourism) have created and which already had over 300 participants* before the Corona forced break. The target group is also mainly members of diverse LGBTIQ* business groups and their friends. Reservation tickets are required to attend. More info and reservations at proudwiesn.de.

September 25, 2023 from 1 pm: Prosecco-Wiesn in the Fischer-Vroni
The "Prosecco-Wiesn" looks back on a tradition of more than 30 years. On the second Monday of the Oktoberfest, the LGBTIQ* community comes together in the Fischer-Vroni starting in the early afternoon. In the smallest of the large Oktoberfest tents, it can get quite crowded quite early on. The name of this meeting place comes from the former organizer, the owner of the Prosecco Bar.

LGBTIQ* hostility at the Oktoberfest - what to do?

There must be no place for homophobia and violence at the Oktoberfest. Should there be an LGBTIQ*-hostile incident, the Munich coordination office LGBTIQ* generally advises: "Defend yourself! Get support! Report it quickly!" and recommends always dialing 110 in emergencies. This also applies to the Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest guard of the Munich police is located in the service center on the western edge of the Theresienwiese (box-shaped copper building behind the Schottenhamel tent) and can also be reached directly via the emergency number. In addition, the police officers from the Oktoberfest guard regularly go on patrol.

• Information from the LGBTIQ* Coordination Office (in German)

Safe Oktoberfest campaign for women*
During the Oktoberfest there is a safe space especially for girls* and women* in the service center (entrance "First Aid"). If you feel threatened or have been harassed, coerced, or raped, you can go there. Experienced and trained specialists (psychologists and social workers) will give you professional advice and support and accompany you to the police station.

• Go to the website "Sichere Wiesn" (in German)