‘Coming Out Days’ campaign week in Waldeck-Frankenberg
Caption: Working together for diversity: The Women’s and Equal Opportunities Service, Korbach Municipal Library, Bad Wildungen Municipal Library, Frankenberg Municipal Library, the Christine Brückner Library and Korbach Youth Centre are offering a varied programme to mark Coming Out Days. Photo: Waldeck-Frankenberg District
To mark International Coming Out Day on 11 October, the Waldeck-Frankenberg district is organising the ‘Coming Out Days’ campaign week from 5 to 11 October 2026. The aim of the initiative, which is organised by the district’s support centre for queer people, is to raise the profile of queer life in the region, promote social awareness and break down prejudices through information and social interaction.
The ‘Coming Out Days’ are intended to help encourage and support people, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The week of events offers a wide-ranging programme, organised in collaboration with Korbach Municipal Library, Bad Wildungen Municipal Library, Frankenberg Municipal Library, the Christine Brückner Library and the Korbach Youth Centre.
“In light of declining acceptance of the rights of queer people and the rise in anti-queer violence, it is important to us that the Coming Out Days raise awareness, provide information and create spaces for the community and those who support it,” explains Miriam Drüppel from the Women’s and Equal Opportunities Service, which houses the support centre. “In the Waldeck-Frankenberg district, people should be encouraged and supported to live openly in accordance with their sexual orientation and gender identity.”
The partners in the collaboration also emphasise the importance of this joint initiative. Monika Weber and Tobias Metzler from the municipal library agree: “We want to raise the profile of queer life, celebrate diversity, and hope that we can break down prejudices through information and interaction. Libraries are open spaces for everyone; with our media displays and the exhibition, we aim to make it easier to engage with a wide range of lived experiences.”
Programme highlights of the campaign week:
5 October, 6.00 pm: Exhibition opening: “Feldwege zum Coming Out” (Country Lanes to Coming Out)
The travelling exhibition organised by the NRW state specialist centre blick* will open at Korbach Municipal Library. It tells the coming-out stories of ten queer people from rural areas. The evening will begin with a reception, followed by welcoming speeches and a moderated discussion with one of the participants, Victoria, the First Deputy District Administrator Karl-Friedrich Frese and other guests. The exhibition will be open until 23 October during the library’s opening hours.
7 October, approx. 11 am to 2 pm: Creative workshop for young people ‘Me – quite diverse’
What makes me who I am? What interests me? What’s important to me and what defines me? At the Korbach Youth Centre, young people can take part in a workshop to create their own personal collage and explore the different facets of their own identity in a creative way.
8 October, approx. 5.00–7.00 pm: Film night at the Korbach Youth Centre
A film relevant to the topic will be shown for young people, preceded by a brief introduction to the theme. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to share impressions and thoughts with one another.
10 October, 10.00 am: Training for multipliers on educational work and queerness, Korbach
Educational work on queer issues is essential for bringing about lasting change to social structures, raising awareness and combating discrimination. The training for outreach workers organised by the LSBT*IQ Network Centre for North Hesse, supported by the Network for Tolerance and the Specialist Service for Women and Equal Opportunities, offers in-depth training to people who wish to become involved in queer education. Over the course of eight sessions, held both online and in person in Korbach, participants will have the opportunity to engage in-depth with queer issues and learn practical methods for educational work. Anyone interested in queer educational work has the opportunity to join the training programme during the Coming Out Days, starting with the second session, and to take part free of charge.
Throughout the campaign week, the municipal libraries in Korbach and Frankenberg, as well as the Christine-Brückner Library in Bad Arolsen, will be setting up information stands on the topic. The Bad Wildungen Municipal Library will be setting up a special reading corner from 19 to 30 October.
Further information and the detailed programme are available on the district’s website at www.landkreis-waldeck-frankenberg.de/comingout. Support and advice on issues relating to gender identity and sexual orientation are also available at the monthly T*träumchen consultation in Korbach. You can register at kontakt@traeumchen-kassel.de .
Keywords:
Coming Out Days Women’s and Equal Opportunities Service T*räumchen consultation hours