The recent attack during CSD Berlin left many in our community shocked and heartbroken. It serves as a painful reminder that, despite decades of progress, Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. Now it matters more than ever that we keep talking about such events and show up for each other as a community. It is also an important moment to reflect on why Pride still exists and why it started in the first place.
So why and when did Pride start? Pride originally started as a protest against police violence and harassment directed towards everyone in the LGBTQ+ community in 1969. 57 years later, and after a lot of progress, our community is now maybe protected by police forces but still experiences hatred and attempts to be silenced. Pride never stopped being a protest, even if many would say otherwise, and it will continue to be one. And these are the moments where it is proven that when someone tries to silence us, we will keep showing up for each other.
Pride then continues, as an ongoing protest for the visibility of love. It’s been inspired and led by many incredible people who, in the face of hate, did not hide but decided to fight back with their greatest weapon: their love for one another and the hope of one day expressing it openly without being hated for who they are. Because loving each other is a revolutionary act in this world. However, we are still fighting for acceptance, and shifting this acceptance to an actual celebration is a whole new revolution.
That is why in the most recent edition of their monthly FEIERABEND, PLATTE decided to celebrate the warmth of the community that brings us all together, makes us dance and get to know each other a bit better, so we can collectively support the places that allow us to do so and make them more alive than ever.
By giving voice to communities that need it most and offering them the spotlight, PLATTE hosted their first FLINTA* afternoon event with a FLINTA* speed-dating event, FLINTA* artists, a DJ, toothgems artists and designers.
You might wonder why someone explicitly chooses to focus on the FLINTA* community when organising an event. Well, I would say the answer is far from unexpected. At the same time, the queer community is open; it sometimes still revolves by default around cis-gay men, leaving women, trans, intersex, non-binary, and agender people to find themselves welcomed, but not necessarily at the forefront of events. Discrimination is still an issue and unfortunately a pattern, one that the FLINTA* community knows well. Being queer does not exempt anyone from misogyny, and being a part of the community never promised a spotlight. This is why, for this Pride edition, PLATTE wanted to give the space and the floor fully to this community and prioritise their connection to address this underrepresentation, until everyone has the visibility they deserve.
PLATTE showed up with a lineup that did the rest of the talking.@goldie.333 spilt some bars, @juliettesansromeo made everyone dance, @gemmed.byolive gemmed up the guests, and @formatstudio.png; a queer couple business, showcased some of their amazing jewellery that you can find at PLATTE. The event was later taken over by Meg10, the mother of @hoe__mies, who closed the evening with a FLINTA* speed dating session that gave the floor to flirts and giggles. Did anyone meet their next fling? Maybe. But perhaps, the real success of the evening was bringing these people together.
This event did not serve as a one-off but more of a continuation of what PLATTE has supported since the beginning. That Pride is not seasonal. And that the respect and space they promote for their community is their foundation. And we like to celebrate such places by giving the floor to further conversation, which you can read below, featuring people of our community on PLATTE Spotlight;
GOLDIE333 in Conversation
Goldie 333 is a Berlin-based queer musician, rapper, and producer who successfully uses her platform to aggressively motivate FLINTA* and queer visibility and is a German icon of feminist liberation. Goldie is popular for having an empowering, strong tone in her raps addressing all themes in society that we would like addressed but sometimes by default get silenced about. She made everyone at the event scream with her for about half an hour and left everyone feeling like we just needed more of it. Later, she offered us some of her words that follow below;
PLATTE: If you would have to describe your music through an ice-cream flavour, what would that be?
GOLDIE333: Maybe Bubblegum. I like that it is a bit playful, and it is also pink.
PLATTE: What is a misconception people have about the women-loving community?
GOLDIE333: That this is still not real love. For me, it is the same when you are in love, and then it does not matter what kind of person it is. But some people, especially men, take that somehow not at all properly. They see me with my girlfriend, and they think that they can somehow have a place between us, but I would almost even say that this love is even a bit stronger,
PLATTE: Do you think there is discrimination within the queer community?
GOLDIE333:I think discrimination is everywhere. And as a woman, you are discriminated against everywhere, unfortunately.
PLATTE: Who was your queer awakening?
GOLDIE333: Ah, maybe Megan Fox? I remember when I was 13, and I thought that she was really pretty, so I printed many of her pictures and hung them in my closet.
PLATTE: What advice would you give to young queers?
GOLDIE333: Love is love, and love- just be yourself. Do not let yourself be bent, because it is simply love. You do not hurt anyone with it.
HOE__MIES in conversation
Meg10 is the mother of Hoe__Mies, the Berlin club night centering female and LGBTQ+ artists. After taking over Berlin with her events, she brought that same energy to PLATTE, hosting its flagship speed dating sessions that were full of flowing conversations and sparks while some new connections could be seen being formed in every corner of the room.
We watched FLINTA* people connect, laugh together, catch a crush, and, for some, maybe realise that this just wasn’t the night they’d meet the love of their life. Each pair had eight questions, five minutes to see if they connected and then switched. After the event, we caught up with Meg to ask her a few questions;
PLATTE: If you would describe your music/DJ sets through an ice-cream flavour, what would that be?
MEG10: It would probably be raspberry cheesecake. I always like mixing different flavours.
PLATTE: What is a misconception people still have about the Women-Loving-Women community?
MEG10: Honestly, I do not even pay attention to non-women-loving community members and their opinions about our community.
PLATTE: Do you think there is still discrimination within our queer community?
MEG10: 1000% there is still discrimination within the queer community. Some people need to get their racism in check; not everyone needs to be the same way. It is very important to acknowledge cultural differences, and to be open-minded towards everybody.
PLATTE: Who was your queer awakening?
MEG10: Definitely Janet Jackson; to this day she is the only celebrity I had posters of on my wall. I specifically remember this one album where she was naked, covered in a fur blanket.
PLATTE: What does PLATTE stand for in your words?
MEG10: I think PLATTE is an amazing space to give young and upcoming designers space to explore what it is like to get their art discovered. I really like the space because it is really experimental in terms of fashion.
PLATTE: What advice would you give to young queers?
MEG10: Just continue being yourself, experiment, do not be so scared all the time. Put yourselves out there, be rejected. This is all part of the process. You need to figure out who you are and who you like. Do not take life so seriously.
And that is the motivation we need to pass on to both young and older queers, despite unfortunate events, like the recent CSD events, still occurring. By reflecting on these words, it is clear why it’s important, especially for people at the stages of still exploring and getting introduced to their sexuality, to not be discouraged and scared by such events but rather to keep loving who and what is right for them and proudly defend it to the world.
In this event, connection was in the centre of the room, creating space for FLINTA* people to meet, and simply be, outside of society’s expectations or anyone’s own entertainment. And what better place to do so than PLATTE. PLATTE and KALTBLUT are some of the places that always make sure to give room and light to the community, make everyone feel heard and seen and allow for any identity to shine for who they are. This is why it is just as important to protect and support the spaces that make this visibility possible.
This is not a time to hide, but to shine as bright as ever for the uniqueness that we carry and to celebrate this together as a community. And that is exactly what we did. Because this love hurts no one, and it should not be punished. It is a love built on connection, care, freedom, and the simple human desire to be seen and accepted for who we truly are. It is not a threat to anyone and takes nothing from anyone. It only adds more love and colour to the world, which is why it should not be punished and violated but embraced.
Watching the event transpire and feeling the energy of the room, it is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge what happened to PLATTE just a few weeks ago. The space was broken into by intruders who stole from and vandalised the space. More than just a venue, PLATTE is a home for Berlin’s independent fashion and creative community. It is a place where emerging designers are given opportunities through retail, education, workshops, events, and visibility.
None of what PLATTE does would be possible without the community. Every contribution helps keep this space alive, restore what was unfairly destroyed, and ensure that PLATTE can continue creating opportunities and bringing together Berlin’s independent fashion scene. If you are also interested in supporting places that give opportunities to unique communities, you can support by donating any amount that feels right for you via this link:
So we can keep showing up and supporting each other.
💌
Article written by: @merouvios
Pictures taken by: @carmensheis
Event production: @platte.berlin
Follow talents: @hoe__mies, @formatstudio.png, @juliettesansromeo, @gemmed.byolive, @goldie.333.
