A queer meeting space for Bern: new association founded, city council backs the cause
Bern is the only major Swiss city without a permanent queer community space. A new association is working to change that — with cross-party backing in the city council.
Zurich has its Regenbogenhaus. Basel, Geneva, Lausanne and other cities have established queer centres or meeting spaces. Bern — the federal city and political heart of Switzerland — has no permanent, low-threshold queer space. That is what a new association wants to change.
«Queerer Begegnungsort für Bern» was founded in 2026 with the aim of creating a permanent queer house in the federal city: a space for counselling, networking, culture and community events, open to all who identify as LGBTIQ+ or as allies.
The political backing is real: in November 2023, council members from Junge Alternative (JA), Grüne Bern (GB), Grünliberale (GFL), SP, AL and PdA jointly submitted a motion in the Bern city council calling on the city government to examine and support the creation of such a space. The breadth of the coalition signals genuine traction in Bern city politics.
While a permanent venue is sought, the association plans interim solutions in collaboration with existing Bern queer organisations including hab queer bern and queerAltern Bern. Those in or visiting Bern can follow developments at bern.lgbt.
Sources & background
- bern.lgbt / hab queer bern ↗bern.lgbt / hab queer bern · Accessed July 29, 2026
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