The City of Mannheim has declared itself a freedom zone for LGBTIQ+ people. With the proclamation, taken by the city council this Tuesday, Mannheim commits to public action to promote and protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual and queer people (LGBTIQ+) people.

The decision was taken against the backdrop of increasingly exclusionary policies, especially by the governments in Poland and Hungary, reads a statement of the city. In Poland, so-called ‘LGBTIQ-free zones’ have been proclaimed. A response to this, the ‘freedom zone’ is “a visible sign for openness and respectful living in diversity in Mannheim,” says Lord Mayor Peter Kurz.

In doing so, Mannheim is following a resolution of the European Parliament from March, which declared the European Union a LGBTIQ Freedom Zone.

You can read the full statement of the City of Mannheim here

Photo © City of Mannheim – Sören Landmann