For many decades, St. Pauli was Hamburg's unconventional suburb, port, and entertainment district. People who were not welcome within the city walls gathered here. The LGBTQI+ community also felt welcome here, where the merchant's daughter could dance with the sailor, there was nothing disreputable about same-sex couples on the dance floor.
This tour is about the persecution of the queer community during the times when Paragraph 175 still existed, and many biographies behind memorial stones tell stories about this. On the other hand, the community found creative loopholes, established places to meet and resisted discrimination.
Queer people were and are active in sex work, as barkeepers and as artists and have made a difference in St. Pauli. You'll look at places where queer nightlife culture has existed from the last hundred years, until today. You'll have an opportunity to grab a drink in the oldest gay bar in Hamburg.
Local guide