Well, there is an active LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer) community with various offerings. Events take place at venues across town. There is not a specifically queer bar year- round as such, but plenty of variety so you can find your crowd.
Queerbad, a gathering organized by Queer Office, takes place each Tuesday at Neubad at 20:00. At the same venue, TransZentral meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 19:00 and join the Queerbad table later on. It is not a closed-off/safe space as such, but more aims to achieve visibility in what is a popular café/bar.
Now in its 17th year, the PinkPanorama FilmFestival takes place in November each year at Stattkino in the Bourbaki building and includes the PinkBar and a festival party, which becomes a cross-generational meeting place during the festival. International films are shown in their original language and with German subtitles.
For a younger crowd, Milchbar takes place every second Wednesday in Treibhaus Luzern and is a collaboration between the nationally active Milchjugend and local collective Kopfkino.
The more commercial, long-running, primarily male Frigay takes place on the third Friday of each month at El Cartel.
On a more serious note, people who experience hate crimes based on their sexual orientation or gender identity can get support and report incidents via the LGBT+ helpline.
The Central Switzerland branch of S&X offer sexual health advice, information, and support as well as various teaching materials for schools.
The LiLi Centre is also a safe space and Dr Brandi Eijsermans is a community psychologist and LGBTQ+ ally who consults there.
Aside from the regular dating apps and platforms, Purple Moon is a user-friendly Swiss platform, which went online in 2002 and is still popular today.
By Kathy Bajaria
Co-curator of the PinkPanorama FilmFestival and project manager at Helvetiarockt
