Mönchengladbach's queer centre opened on Wallstraße in May 2022, at the end of a campaign the association behind it describes as a twenty-year dream. Three existing groups set it up between them: the city's lesbian association, the CSD organisation and the queer carnival society. It carries the name QUEERS an der Niers.
The rooms are given over to groups rather than run as a bar. There is a Trans*Treff, a group for the relatives of queer people, one for separation and grief, a faith group, a decorating team and a choir. Two cafés use the same space: Café Altera, aimed at older members of the community, and Café Carlton. Counselling is part of what the centre does, and friends of regulars are told they are welcome too.
The association also puts on the seasonal parties, a spring one, a summer one and an autumn one, and takes part in the city's carnival. For a visitor it is the one address in Mönchengladbach that can say what else is on.
The people in this picture are AI-generated.
