Queer Guide

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Queer Life in Vienna
Queer Life in Vienna
Queer Life in Vienna
The magic of the city draws every visitor under
its spell. Above all, gays and lesbians feel at
home here, despite Vienna being no “party”
hotspot.
As in many small countries, the Austrian capital
– with its 1.7 million inhabitants, totaling 2.3 million
in the greater metropolitan area – is the
“natural” gay & lesbian center of the country.
Many gays and lesbians from the various provinces
move to Vienna to be able to develop freely.
Since Vienna is the seat of numerous international
Organizations like OPEC, OSCE and UNIDO,
many gays and lesbians from every land under
the sun live and work here creating a naturally
diverse community. The fact that Vienna today is
considered the Central European hotspot for
innovative design and contemporary art further
increases the attraction of the city.
The gay and lesbian scene offers something for
every taste. Cafés, bars and restaurants, as well
as clubs and regular party events give everyone
the perfect excuse for going out. The Vienna
scene is not especially large, but proves to be
very intimate and friendly upon close inspection.
In addition, many gays and lesbians frequent
mixed establishments, which are open to all
patrons. Gay and lesbian couples, who stroll
through the city holding hands, are a natural
part of everyday life of a major city like Vienna.
So, gays and lesbians move about just as freely
and relaxed as heterosexuals.
© WTV/Robert Osmark
© WTV/Harald Eisenberger
Queer Life in Vienna
The gay and lesbian community is influenced
by a large number of national organizations
headquartered in Vienna which are primarily
active in political and social contexts. Human
rights organizations, the gay and lesbian subgroups
of political parties belong as much to the
community as sports clubs and student
organizations.
Politically, Austria had difficulty for a long time
with equal rights of gays and lesbians. Only in
recent years has there been movement on this
subject. Various political advances, supported by
the ruling parties, allow one to hope that it won’t
be long before gay and lesbian couples can enter
into registered partnerships in Austria. The city
of Vienna, however, is a lot further than the rest
of the country.
Vienna clearly takes the initiative in Austria
where equal rights of homosexuals are concerned.
The public authorities not only tolerate, but
actively support gays and lesbians. The municipality
of Vienna supports gay and lesbian culture
in the form of festivals, movies, and the Rainbow
Parade (Pride) – in their ideals and financially. As
part of this initiative, Vienna was the proud host
of the ILGA Europe and the ILGA World
Conferences in 2008. The Aids Help organization
was granted an entire building for its use, the
city’s official anti-discrimination office positively
influences legal and social change in Austrian
society; and, the Vienna Tourist Board sees to it
that gay and lesbian life in the city is shown in
the proper light internationally.
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