Queer & Pride
Under the motto "Queer & Pride", we provide information about events, demos and days of action and remembrance for the queer community - including IDAHOBIT* on May 17 (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia), Pride Month in June and CSD (Christopher Street Day). With empowering campaigns, the Department for Equal Opportunities shows solidarity with the LGBTIQ+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer and others) and sends a clear signal for diversity and against discrimination. For more visibility, the Progress Pride flags are also raised at the University of Siegen during Pride Month and around IDAHOBIT*.
Archive
The Pride Dance took place twice in 2025 - a colorful party with information material, goodies and networking opportunities. The event was organized by the student representative of the Equal Opportunities Officer Lea Kuhn in cooperation with the team from the Equal Opportunities Office, the AStA and committed student councils.
On the occasion of IDAHOBIT* 2025, the team from the Equal Opportunities Office took up the motto "LET'S TALK ABOUT QUEERNESS" as part of the Open University and focused on queer topics and offers - both at the university and in the city.
In May and June 2023, the University of Siegen was all about diversity, visibility and solidarity. Around the IDAHOBIT* on 17 May, the Equal Opportunities Office, together with the Diversity Policies Officer and the Press Office, set a clear signal for acceptance and equality with a social media campaign and provided information about the university's support services.
On May 16, the Equal Opportunities Office at the Unteres Schloss campus invited students to exchange ideas. At the information stand in the food court, there was thematically appropriate literature, impulses to take away and a small competition.
Another highlight was the Pride Dance on June 23 in the Verstärker. In cooperation with the Student Equal Opportunities Officer, the Diversity Policies Officer and the Social Work Student Council, a party with an open atmosphere was created - with live DJs, information stands and space for exchange.
In 2022, the "Gender Diversity" working group organized a colourful programme with various event formats under the title "#TINklUSiv - Trans, Inter*, Non-Binary - Gender Diversity at the University of Siegen" to mark IDAHOBIT* and Diversity Day. From May 31 to June 3, 2022, a lecture and a reading for all interested parties as well as a workshop for employees of the University of Siegen took place.
To kick things off, Né Fink spoke about concepts, experiences and structural conditions of gender diversity in the university context in her lecture "Gender diversity at the university - experiences, challenges and opportunities" and then invited participants to exchange ideas and engage in discussion.
On the following day, Jayrôme C. Robinet read from his autobiographical story "My journey from a white woman to a young man with a migration background". With humor and depth, he conveyed personal experiences in the field of tension between gender, identity and social attributions.
The event concluded with the workshop "Gender diversity in everyday working life - conveyed in a practical way" led by Né Fink, who provided employees with practical strategies and background knowledge on how to deal respectfully with gender diversity in everyday university life.
In May 2021, the digital Diversity Week took place under the motto "#SeeTheUnseen - Mental health in studying, teaching and everyday working life at the (digital) University of Siegen". The Equal Opportunities Office, the Family Service Office, FraMeS and the Inclusive University of Siegen Service Office took part with a virtual exhibition. An open exchange on the content made it clear how closely equality, inclusion and mental health are linked and what challenges marginalized groups in particular have faced during the pandemic.
Furthermore, the Pride Dance in June 2021 at the Lower Castle offered a visible sign of solidarity and diversity on the occasion of Pride Month. Despite pandemic restrictions, the event offered space for the queer community in Siegen to meet and be visible with speeches and music.
Under the motto "Virtually flying the flag against homophobia, biphobia, interphobia and transphobia!", the team from the Equal Opportunities Office presented a variety of offers on the university website in 2020 - due to the pandemic. These included the "Notes on gender-equitable language", the "Digital Diversity Guide", the Gestu_S, the interdisciplinary network "Queery/ing Popular Culture" and other initiatives, projects and services.
In addition, a digital world map was created to provide interested parties with a comprehensive collection of links on the topic of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual/Transgender, Intersexual) from all over the world.
