Berlin's Queer & Trans History – Guided Augmented Reality Tour
instant confirmation
free cancellation
4 hours
from€49.00
4 hours
English
Free Cancellation
Overview
Delve into queer and trans history in Berlin on this walking tour, and learn where the LGBTQIA+ emancipation movement began. The origins of the world’s modern LGBTQIA+ identity movement lie in Berlin. Trace our city’s queer and trans history with your expert guide, to better understand where we’re coming from. Your walking tour is enhanced by a selection of augmented reality segments, using the camera on your guide’s iPad. Demonstrate alongside queer activists of times gone by, or see how the building in front of you looked 100 years ago!
Experience
Highlights
Location
In front of Schloss Bellevue (Spreeweg 1, Berlin, Berlin, 10557)
Duration
4 hours
Start Times
11:00, 16:00
Address
Spreeweg 1, 10557 Berlin, Germany
Itinerary
- Join your Guide, a Certified Social Scientist and Sex Educator: My name is Jeff, and I've studied sociology and gender with a focus on sexuality and queer theory. I am also a certified sex educator, a long-time LGBTQIA+ activist, and a freelance journalist writing about queer life in Berlin. During my tour, I’ll share knowledge accumulated from over a decade’s worth of dedicated research.
- The World’s First Trans Identities & Gender Affirmation Surgeries: Learn who coined the terms “transvestite” and “transexualism”. Discover so-called “transvestite certificates”, and hear the stories of Lili Elbe, Dora Richter, and Karl M. Baer - the first trans people in the world to undergo gender affirmation surgeries.
- Discover “the World’s First Gay Man”: Explore the fascinating life of gay rights campaigner Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. Learn how he developed the world’s first queer and trans identities, and how he fought against the criminalization of homosexuality. You'll also come to understand how Ulrichs’ brave actions laid the cornerstone for our global movement.
- Understand the Impact of 1920s Berlin’s Lesbian Life on the World: Travel back to the Roaring Twenties, and learn how acclaimed bisexual actress and singer Marlene Dietrich popularized Berlin’s lesbian fashion style internationally. Hear the story of Germany’s most famous lesbian singer, Claire Waldoff, and learn of bisexual Black dancer Josephine Baker.
- Explore What Happened in Nazi Germany: Understand Hitler’s contradictory relationship with homosexuality, learn why there were openly gay Nazis, and hear what happened to LGBTQIA+ people in the Nazi concentration camps. We’ll get to know sexual scientist Magnus Hirschfeld’s theory of “sexual intermediaries”. You’ll also learn why the modern world would think very differently about LGBTQIA+ identities, had the Nazis not tried to destroy the movement in its fledgling years.
- Grasp the Trauma of the AIDS Crisis: Gain insight into the trauma that the AIDS crisis brought on an entire generation of gay and bisexual men. Learn how the West-Berlin nightclub SchwuZ became the center of activism, and why the Berlin Wall was referred to as the condom of the German Democratic Republic.
- Discover How Berlin’s LGBTQIA+ Community Shaped the City’s World-Renowned Nightlife: Gain an appreciation for the influence of queer and trans communities in Berlin’s internationally acclaimed nightlife – from the Chez Romy Haag and its nightlife revolution, to the Metropol’s gay community, and from SO36’s Gayhane to the emergence of Berghain as the world’s most famous club. Along the way, learn where best to go out in Berlin today.
Inclusions
- Guided walking tour, with augmented reality
Exclusions
- Food and drink
Finishing Points
- The guided Berlin tour ends at Wittenbergplatz. From there you get excellent public transport connections to anywhere in the city.
Additional Information
- You can also book a private tour. Prices are: 250€ (up to 9 participants), 300€ (10-14 participants), 350€ (15-19 participants) or 400€ (20+ participants). To request, please send an email to service@berlinguide.de!
- Please be aware that the tour will be cancelled in extreme weather conditions, like heavy rain or storm, and you will be fully refunded.
- Please be aware of the trigger/content warnings, which include: animal cruelty, antisemitism, BDSM/kinks/fetishes, HIV/AIDS, homophobia, human trafficking, (mass) murder, Nazi Germany, nudity, poverty, racism, sex, sexism, sexual abuse, (sexualized) violence against and abuse of children, sex work/prostitution, transphobia, and violence (physical, psychological, sexualized).
- For my guests' safety, I accommodate personal requests, for instance mandatory mask usage indoors, to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience. If you have specific health concerns or require special assistance, please contact me directly, and I’ll be happy to discuss personalized safety and accessibility measures to meet your individual needs
- This tour is accessible by wheelchair
- Minimum age is 18 years
Requirements
- A valid public transport ticket as we will travel by underground or bus.
- Depending on the weather: An umbrella or sun protector and water. (The tour will be cancelled in extreme weather conditions, like heavy rain or storm. Of course, in that case, you will be fully refunded.)
- A curious mind and no reluctance to be entertained or shocked.
Guide Languages
English
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than a day before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than a day before the activity start time.
from€49.00