Osnabrück

Description of the city

The queer community is a vital and valued part of Osnabrück’s urban society and
contributes to
diversity and quality of life. In the City of Osnabrück, every person – regardless of their gender identity,
sexual orientation and individual background – should feel a sense of belonging and have the
opportunity to thrive as part of the city community.

Goal

Osnabrück’s policy approach is clear: the reality of life for LGBTIQ+ people must be sustainably and
fundamentally improved. In doing so, the city also seeks to foster stronger connections with the queer
community and create an inclusive environment in which people of all sexual orientations, gender
identities and backgrounds can live openly and freely.
The aim of the policy is to promote social inclusion and equality for all people in Osnabrück. To achieve
this goal, the mutual exchange of experiences between the different cities in the Rainbow Cities
Network should be enriching in order to learn and benefit from each other. In recent years, the City of
Osnabrück has already developed and strengthened many topics and projects for LGBTIQ+ individuals.
Joining the Rainbow Cities Network marks the next step in building on and expanding this work.

Policy

Despite important progress, the lives of many people in the LGBTIQ+ community are still shaped by
exclusion and discrimination. The City of Osnabrück has taken continuous steps toward the inclusion
and protection of the LGBTIQ+ community.
In 2017, the local city council adopted a resolution to establish a permanent Anti-Discrimination
Office, marking the beginning of structured municipal engagement in diversity and equal opportunity
policies. In 2022, a further resolution was passed with the goal of making queer life more visible and
secure. As a direct result, the Queer Advisory Council was officially established in 2024 to represent
queer perspectives in local policy and strengthen community dialogue. Beginning in July 2025, the
City of Osnabrück will also establish and fund a dedicated queer counseling center, providing lowthreshold and community-based support for LGBTIQ+ individuals. While Osnabrück does not yet have
a standalone “LGBTIQ+ Action Plan,
” these coordinated efforts form the foundation of an integrated
approach to supporting the queer community. Joining the Rainbow Cities Network represents an
important step in reinforcing Osnabrück’s
international collaboration and long-term commitment to LGBTIQ+ inclusion.

Focus Areas

Osnabrück’s approach to LGBTIQ+ inclusion involves several departments and
stakeholders:

  • Queer Advisory Council (founded 2023): This body advises the city administration and councilon queer issues, ensuring policies are developed with input from affected communities.
  • Anti-Discrimination Office (since 2017): Located in the Department for Equal Opportunities,this office addresses all forms of discrimination and includes LGBTIQ+ issues in its mandate.
  • Anti-Discrimination Network: A coalition of local NGOs and institutions offering counselingand support for victims of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, age,or sexual identity. This network includes groups with expertise in LGBTIQ+ matters.

Collobaration partners

The city maintains close cooperation with local LGBTIQ+ and allied organizations such as:

  • AIDS-Hilfe Osnabrück e.V.
  • Gay in May e.V.
  • Mädchenzentrum Café Dauerwelle
  • Bambule35
  • Netzwerk der Vielfalt
  • Frauenberatungsstelle Osnabrück
  • Diakonie Stadt und Land Osnabrück