The rights to the use of this text are owned by WienTourismus (Vienna
Tourist Board). The text may be reproduced in its entirety, partially and
in edited form free of charge until further notice. Please forward a
sample copy to: Vienna Tourist Board, Media Management,
Invalidenstrasse 6, 1030 Wien; media.rel@vienna.info. No liability
accepted for errors or omissions.
Authors: Ralf Strobl, CEO Kabane13 MediengesmbH,
Manuel Simbürger, freelance journalist
Status as at January 2015
Vienna – as colorful as a rainbow
Vienna is always worth the trip for gays and lesbians. Countless cultural and shopping
attractions shape life in Austria’s tolerant and open-minded capital, which is also home to a
vibrant gay and lesbian scene.
Tolerant capital where tradition meets modernity
From tradition to contemporary lifestyle, laid back to out-there, and historic to modern, Vienna has
something for everyone. The sheer diversity of the capital means one thing for gay and lesbian
visitors in particular – the chance to be themselves. “I have never had a negative experience in
Vienna relating to my homosexuality,” explains long term Vienna resident and fashion designer
Nhut LaHong. “I am very open about my sexuality – and I get openness back.” Star transvestite
and cult figure Conchita Wurst, winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, takes the same line:
“No matter what bars and restaurants I go to, I’ve never encountered any hostility or experienced
rejection. For me, Vienna is a very gay and lesbian friendly place.”
In actual fact, the Austrian capital is one of the most tolerant and gay friendly cities in anywhere in
Europe. Gay and lesbian events are supported by the city council, and weeks before the Rainbow
Parade gets under way the capital’s trams are decked out with rainbow flags. “Over the past few
decades Vienna has changed massively for the better,” noted Holger “Miss Candy” Thor, who is
Austria’s best-known drag queen. “Gays and lesbians have a high standing in society, and people
have a completely open approach to the subject, in the truest sense of the word. The days of
having to hide away are long gone.”
Vienna also has a fascinating gay history. The famous Belvedere Palace was the summer
residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736), who was reputed to have had intimate
relations with members of the same sex. His no less impressive Winter Palace in Vienna’s historic
1
city center opened to the general public in fall 2013. Just ten minutes’ walk away is the historic
Kaiserbründl sauna, a meeting place for gay men as long ago as the nineteenth century – and to
this day. Among its prominent customers was no less a figure than Archduke Ludwig “Lutzi Wutzi”
Viktor (1842–1919), Emperor Franz Joseph’s gay brother.
Homosexual architects Eduard van der Nüll (1812–1868) and August Sicard von Sicardsburg
(1813–1868) drew up the blueprints for the Vienna State Opera. Gay history buffs shouldn’t miss
out on the Sisi Museum at the imperial Hofburg which pays homage to the life, beauty and
mysteries surrounding Empress Elisabeth (1837–1898). A stroll through the Austrian capital’s old
town still throws up traces of Sisi, the Empress who was so far ahead of her time that she
espoused the virtues of feminism and fought for her emancipation – until her untimely death in
1898 in Geneva at the hands an assassin, making her a bone fide gay icon. Anyone looking to
delve a little deeper into Vienna’s gay history would be well advised to go on one of the historic
walking tours of “Vienna’s gayest locations” which are hosted at irregular intervals by the Viennabased culture center QWIEN.
“The Austrian capital has a variety of sights, restaurants and the kind of spectacular and constantly
changing nightlife for gays and lesbians that other major European cities are hard pressed to
match,” said scene stalwart and bar owner Frank Liebetegger (proprietor of Village-bar and Why
Not, among other locations). The city’s arts and culture scene comprises countless theaters,
museums and opera houses – with the Burgtheater and Vienna State Opera warranting particular
mention owing to their top international standing. Meanwhile the MuseumsQuartier complex has a
distinctly young and hip vibe. Its numerous bars and exhibitions are a magnet for gays and
lesbians, particularly during the summer months. And in Löwenherz, Vienna can boast a book
store which is exclusively given over to gay and lesbian literature.
Vienna’s longest shopping street, Mariahilfer Strasse is located right next door to the
MuseumsQuartier. Here, hundreds of stores draw the crowds with their unique mix of fashion,
jewelry and accessories. Smaller shops can be found lining the side streets concentrated around
Neubaugasse and the romantic cobbled streets of Spittelberg, where cult fetish boutique Tiberius
has a well-established retail presence. But anyone looking for a more luxury experience should
head for Kärntner Strasse, Graben, Kohlmarkt and the Goldenes Quartier in the city center.
Finally, a shopping trip can only truly be deemed to tick all the boxes if it culminates with a
melange and a slice of Sachertorte at one of the city’s countless coffeehouses. Naschmarkt also
comes highly recommended. “Stroll around Naschmarkt, and it’s not just the colors and aromas of
fruits, vegetables and spices that you notice,” explains historian and QWIEN president Andreas
Brunner. “It goes without saying that lesbian and gay couples come here walking hand in hand to
2
do their weekend shop.” There is another aspect of Vienna’s legendary Gemütlichkeit or coziness
that the gay and lesbian community prizes. Familiar face on the gay scene Tamara Mascara sums
it up perfectly: “Vienna combines the coziness of village life with the openness of an cosmopolitan
capital.”
Addresses:
Buchhandlung Löwenherz, Berggasse 8, 1090 Vienna, www.loewenherz.at
Burgtheater, Universitätsring 2, 1010 Vienna, www.burgtheater.at
Goldenes Quartier, Tuchlauben 3-7, Bognergasse, Seitzergasse, Am Hof, 1010 Vienna,
www.goldenesquartier.at
Kaiserbründl, Weihburggasse 18-20, 1010 Vienna, www.kaiserbruendl.at
Kohlmarkt, 1010 Vienna, www.kohlmarkt.co.at
MuseumsQuartier, Museumsplatz, 1070 Vienna, www.mqw.at
Naschmarkt, Wienzeile, 1060 Vienna, www.wienernaschmarkt.eu
QWIEN – Zentrum für schwul/lesbische Kultur und Geschichte, Grosse Neugasse 29, 1040
Vienna, www.qwien.at
Schloss Belvedere, Prinz Eugen-Strasse 27, 1030 Vienna, www.belvedere.at
Sisi-Museum, Hofburg, 1010 Vienna. www.hofburg-wien.at
Staatsoper, Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna, www.wiener-staatsoper.at
Tiberius, Lindengasse 2, 1070 Vienna, www.tiberius.at
Winterpalais, Himmelpfortgasse 8, 1010 Vienna, www.belvedere.at
Vienna’s gay scene: dynamic and visible
“I often have gay friends come to visit from other countries and I show them Vienna’s vibrant gay
scene with pride.” Actor and entertainer Alfons Haider – who was one of the first Austrian
celebrities to come out publicly back in 1997 – is a big fan of the Austrian capital’s gay scene. And
it’s easy to see why: over the past few years a young, dynamic and vibrant scene has established
itself in the city “which can hold up its head with pride in a comparison with the other major
European capitals such as London and Berlin,” notes the openly gay “Homophobia” director
Gregor Schmidinger. The city’s numerous bars present a distinctly self-assured front to their
patrons – something that goes without saying for Holger “Miss Candy” Thor, Austria’s best known
drag queen: “Vienna’s cosmopolitan outlook has rubbed off on the local gay scene. Gays and
lesbians, and therefore the gay and lesbian scene, are more visible than ever before.”
The majority of gay (and lesbian) bars can be found on the Rechte and Linke Wienzeile, just a
short distance from the old town. Laid back cafés sit comfortably alongside hip bars, cool discos,
3
fetish joints and trendy event locations. “I just love letting my hair down on the scene,” confirms
2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst. “Proceedings always have something of a family gettogether about them.” Austria’s most successful YouTube star, the openly homosexual columnist
Michael Buchinger, is full of praise for the Viennese scene: “The Viennese are open, and it doesn’t
take any time at all to meet new people. I was welcomed with open arms from the very first visit.”
The Viennese scene is bursting with coffeehouses and bars. One of the figureheads is Café
Savoy, which was established in the nineteenth century – and built by a student of gay architect
August Sicard von Sicardsburg’s students. The two gigantic mirrors and impressive wall and ceiling
paintings set the scene for an enchanting journey back in time. It is a place where patrons of all
ages come to relax and flirt, with many people selecting the Savoy as the starting point for the long
party night ahead. Options include the nearby Mango Bar, which can safely claim to be the favorite
haunt of the younger crowd and is famed for its attractive waiters and brightly-colored cocktails.
Mango Bar is part of the “gay empire” built up by leading figure on the gay scene Frank
Liebetegger, who is also the man behind the Why Not disco, Felixx-Bar, Sportsauna and Villagebar. Liebetegger sees the capital’s scene as “more open and friendly than ever before. We are
really glad to see that younger and older groups are coming together more and more. Round here
people can be whoever they want to be.” While Felixx-Bar treats its patrons to excellent wines and
an overflowing cocktail menu, it’s the clientèle at Village-bar that reads like a who’s who of the
scene.
Good times are guaranteed at Why Not, Vienna’s most popular gay disco, thanks to its trio of bars
and trendy dance floor. As an alternative, Vienna offers two or three different gay club nights
virtually every weekend, ensuring that there really is something to suite every taste. At Ken Club –
hosted by the legendary Camera Club – pop fans and party animals can turn night into day, while
queer:beat serves up a heady mix of indie rock, electronica and chart hits. Top house club nights
include Cage Club with stalwart Tamara Mascara as well as POPOlär at Club Massiv featuring star
DJs Jerry J. Kriz and Gerald van der Hint.
The idea that Vienna’s scene makes every effort to reach out to people outside the gay
mainstream is reflected in various club nights, including alternative music events like Meat Market
and FMqueer, the BallCanCan queer Balkan parties, bear night Pitbull, And Party Malefiz at brut in
the Künstlerhaus where in the words of the director Gregor Schmidinger, “Art and trash come
together, lifting the boundaries of sexual orientation.” Kibbutz Klub at Club U is another one for
those in the know. Serving up Israeli pop music, it adds yet another dimension for the late night
crowd to enjoy. Heaven, the undisputed poster boy of Vienna’s gay club scene, is hosted under the
benevolent gaze of famous drag queen Miss Candy at an ever-changing line up of different
4
locations. Set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2014, Heaven is a byword for hip house music
with a personal touch. When not hosting Heaven, Miss Candy is a committed political activist.
[lo:sch] and annual fetish event Wien in Schwarz are an absolute must for anyone with a thing for
leather. Sauna devotees are in their element at the well-known Kaiserbründl (a heritage-listed
historic oriental bathhouse) and Sportsauna. The latter is open round the clock on the weekends
and its bar even offers breakfasts. Outdoor fans should head for the nudist FKK zone at Toter
Grund (also known as Gay Beach) on the Danube Island.
Addresses:
BallCanCan, Schwarzenbergplatz 10/Schwindgasse 1, 1040 Vienna, www.ballcancan.com
Café Savoy, Linke Wienzeile 36, 1060 Vienna, www.savoy.at
Cage Club, Camera Club, Neubaugasse 2, 1070 Vienna, www.circusclub.eu
Felixx, Gumpendorfer Strasse 5, 1060 Vienna, www.felixx-bar.at
FMqueer, check announcements, www.fmqueer.at
Heaven, check announcements, www.heaven.at
Kaiserbründl, Weihburggasse 18-20, 1010 Vienna, www.kaiserbruendl.at
Ken Club @ Camera Club, Neubaugasse 2, 1070 Vienna, www.kenclub.at
Kibbutz Klub, Club U, Karlsplatz Künstlerhauspassage Objekt U26, 1010 Vienna,
www.facebook.com/KibbutzKlub
[lo:sch],
Fünfhausgasse 1, 1150 Vienna, www.club-losch.at
Malefiz @ brut, Karlsplatz 5, 1010 Vienna, www.brut-wien.at
Mango Bar, Laimgrubengasse 3, 1060 Vienna, www.mangobar.at
Meat Market, nach Vorankündigung, www.facebook.com/ClubMeatMarket
Naschmarkt, Wienzeile, 1060 Vienna, www.wienernaschmarkt.eu
Pitbull Bear & Butch Clubbing, Club Titanic, Theobaldgasse 11, 1060 Vienna, www.pitbullclubbing.at
POPOlär @ Club Massiv, Untere Weissgerberstrasse 37, 1030 Vienna, www.massiv.at
queer:beat, check for announcements, www.queerbeat.at
Sportsauna, Lange Gasse 10, 1080 Vienna, www.why-not.at
Toter Grund, Donauinsel, Steinspornbrücke 2, 1220 Vienna, www.donauinsel.at
Village Bar, Stiegengasse 8, 1060 Vienna, www.village-bar.at
Why Not, Tiefer Graben 22, 1010 Vienna, www.why-not.at
5
Vienna’s lesbian scene: keen eye for detail
Vienna’s lesbian scene is smaller and slightly less visible than the capital’s gay scene. But the
bars, cafés and restaurants that cater to a lesbian clientèle stand out from the crowd with their
traditions, determined ethos, zest for life and attention to detail. “The lesbian scene in Vienna might
be quite small, but it has a charm all of its own,” says Christine Hödl, an openly lesbian singer and
winner of an Austrian TV talent show. Viviana Gonzalez-Ferreiro, owner of Marea Alta, is
“constantly surprised by just how inventive and creative Vienna’s lesbians can be. The scene
regularly hosts outré and completely different events. There is always something to suit everyone!”
But it’s not just the varied night life that makes the lesbian scene so special. Gonzalez-Ferreiro
continues, “The sense of solidarity is incredibly strong here.”
Although not specifically aimed at a lesbian demographic, Café Willendorf in the Rosa Lila Villa is
mainly patronised by women, and is the city’s number one place for lesbians to meet. “I love the
open and extremely friendly atmosphere at Willendorf,” says Angela Schwarz from the Vienna AntiDiscrimination Agency (Wiener Antidiskriminierungsstelle, WASt). Other regulars at Willendorf
include Christine Hödl, president of Queer Business Women, an independent association for
lesbians working in management positions. Hödl explains: “The food and the wine list are simply
unbeatable, especially when enjoyed in the guest garden in summer!” The Rosa Lila Villa is the
oldest gay and lesbian center in Vienna, and acts as the headquarters for countless gay and
lesbian organizations in the city. Tradition plays a key role in the Frauencafé too, which was the
capital’s first ever women-only café when it opened in 1977. Popular to this day, it has a loyal
following thanks to the political and feminist discussions that take place here. Those who are more
into partying and are also partial to art projects could do a lot worse than check out the
Frauenzentrum Bar, or FZ for short.
Alongside Labr!s Bar, Marea Alta close to Gumpendorfer Strasse is something of a well-kept
secret among a younger lesbian (and gay) crowd. The bar has a distinctly 1930s Parisian feel to it:
“The dreamers from the next generation on the scene congregate here: philosophical, political,
creative, intellectual, undisciplined and queer in a unusual new constellation – a captivating mix,”
owner Viviana Gonzalez-Ferreiro sums up the atmosphere.
It is a little unfair when people automatically think of the gay scene at the first mention of parties
and dancing the night away – Vienna’s lesbian party crowd can more than hold its own when it
comes to having a good time. Both the Las Chicas women’s club nights and the g.mix events are
unashamedly loud, bright and life-affirming with electronic, house, tribal and techno to
enjoy.Featuring some of the best male and female DJs out there, they are perfect for turning night
6
into day. The makeup of the crowds at g.spot (“Las chicas meets g.spot” parties were launched a
short time ago) and FMqueer is decidedly more alternative.
Addresses:
Cafe Willendorf @ Rosa Lila Villa, Linke Wienzeile 102, 1060 Vienna, www.cafe-willendorf.at
Fmqueer, check announcements, www.fmqueer.at
Frauencafe, Lange Gasse 11, 1080 Vienna, www.frauencafe.com
FZ Bar Frauenzentrum, Währinger Strasse 59, 1090 Vienna, www.fz-bar.wolfsmutter.com
g.mix @ Club U, Karlsplatz Künstlerhauspassage Objekt U26, 1010 Vienna, www.pinked.at
g.spot,check announcements, www.gspot.at
Las Chicas Clubbing, check announcements, www.pinked.at
Marea Alta, Gumpendorfer Strasse 28, 1060 Vienna, www.mareaaltawien.blogspot.com
Gay and lesbian events: dance, party, reflect
Rainbow Ball: the Rainbow Ball at the Parkhotel Schönbrunn has carved out a niche for itself as a
classic fixture on the gay and lesbian ball calendar. This annual get-together is a smart affair that
plays out according to time-honored Viennese traditions, opening with a polonaise, followed by
waltzes, foxtrots and samba dancing. The celebrations are all in a good cause, with the proceeds
from the night going to Vienna-based homosexual initiative HOSI Wien. Jan 31, 2015
www.regenbogenball.at
Rose Ball: anything the straight scene can do, the gay and lesbian scene can do better – much
better! The Rose Ball provides a queer alternative to Vienna’s Opera Ball. Held on the same night
as its legendary counterpart, it also maintains a strict dress code. But instead of the strains of a
traditional waltz, the dance floor at the Kursalon Wien echoes to the sounds of house and techno
music. Attending the Rose Ball is something of a political statement, with ballgoers doing their bit to
promote visibility and tolerance. The Rose Ball’s patron and host Miss Candy has managed to
successfully establish the ball as a Viennese institution. Feb 12, 2015, www.rosenball.eu
Boylesque Festival Vienna: the first ever Boylesque Festival Vienna took place in 2014, taking
the town by storm in its debutante year. The event is hosted by Austria’s sole Boylesque artist,
Jacques Patriaque. For two nights the Austrian capital is given over to Burlesque, Boylesque,
Vaudeville and everything in between. Visitors can look forward to an outrageous blend of humour,
eroticism and music. May 14-15, 2015, www.boylesquefestivalvienna.com
Life Ball: Held in the heart of the Austrian capital since 1993, the Life Ball is the world’s largest –
and most unconventional – AIDS charity event. The two-hour free opening ceremony on
7
Rathausplatz sets the time-honored traditions of classical Viennese ball culture in a fresh context
for a more contemporary audience, before 3,780 Life Ball ticket holders head for City Hall and a
wild night of partying all in the name of a good cause. Life Ball organizer Gery Keszler: “Thanks to
Vienna City Council, the Life Ball was the first AIDS charity event in the world to be held in an
official government building – to this day standing out as a shining example of Vienna’s open and
cosmopolitan attitude. Held under the banner of Fighting AIDS and Celebrating Life, the Life Ball
has been a life-affirming celebration every year since it began, as well as an important source of
funds for charity projects. It should also be seen as a statement confirming that the true strength of
a society lies in its diversity.” In addition to hundreds of helpers working away behind the scenes
each year, the event attracts the voluntary support of world-famous personalities, artists and music
acts. The profits from the Life Ball are put to work supporting respected international partner
organizations such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, amfAR
– The Foundation for AIDS Research and UNAIDS, driving forward various projects in the parts of
the world hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic. The 23rd Life Ball takes place on May 16, 2015 and
will be inspired by the theme of “Gold – VER SACRUM” this year. www.lifeball.org
60th Eurovision Song Contest: in 2015 all of Austria will singing the praises of the Eurovision
Song Contest – thanks to Conchita Wurst! The transvestite star took everyone by surprise when
she won the 59th Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, bringing the Alpine nation its first win in
the 49 years since Udo Jürgens last won the world’s largest singing competition for Austria! The
semi-finals of the “biggest gay party in the world” will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle May 19
and 21, 2015, with the same venue providing the backdrop for the grand final on May 23, 2015.
Countless events and a Euro Village will get the entire city in the party mood. www.stadthalle.com
Vienna Fetish Spring: the organizers of “Wien in Schwarz” really hit their stride each year in
spring with the annual Vienna Fetish Spring festival, which plays out in the capital at around the
time of the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Mr. Leather Austria competition is among the countless
program highlights. Jun 3-7, 2015, www.lmc-vienna.at
Identities – Queer Film Festival: For around two decades selected cinemas in Vienna have
opened their doors for the biennial ten-day queer film festival, identities. A celebration of lesbian
and gay cinema, it explores the cinematic and sexual self in all its glory, bringing variety instead of
mainstream to the silver screen. The format enjoys enormous popularity among gays and lesbians
while also attracting its fair share of straight couples. Organizer Barbara Reumüller is cited as
saying that a film festival is the perfect place to shake up the way that people think about longestablished categories, attitudes and labels. Which is why identities strives to put a huge range of
movies on show: audiences are treated to everything from huge Hollywood productions to low-
8
budget art house films and cinematic classics. Whatever the on-screen entertainment, the idea is
always to keep audiences thinking. Jun 11-19, 2015, www.identities.at
Vienna Pride and Rainbow Parade For six days each summer Vienna Pride plays out in Vienna,
inspired by arresting slogans such as “Show your Face!” and “Born this way!”. During this special
week the community celebrates gay pride and life itself, while working to improve visibility and
advance equal rights. The core of Vienna Pride is the Pride Village tent city on Heldenplatz. A
packed program and full schedule of live acts has a widespread appeal, reaching out to people
outside the gay and lesbian community. Vienna Pride culminates with the Rainbow Parade, a huge
mobile party and demonstration which travels along Vienna’s Ringstrasse boulevard in the
opposite direction to the usual flow of traffic. These days the parade draws a mixed gay, lesbian
and straight crowd of more than 100,000 onlookers who come to join the party. Jun 16-21, 2015,
www.viennapride.at, www.hosiwien.at/regenbogenparade
Rosa Wiener Wiesn-Fest 2014: 2015 will see the rapid return of the up-and-coming gay and
lesbian alternative to the capital’s Wiener Wiesn beer festival. Given pride of place on the
Kaiserwiese meadow directly in the line of the Giant Ferris Wheel, its outré clientele prove that
oompah music, Alpine fare and swaying along in time to the beats is not the exclusive preserve of
the straight crowd. Entertainment comes courtesy of drag queens, yodelers and Austrian VIPs –
previous star guests include national treasures such as the entertainer Alfons Haider and
Eurovision Song Contest Winner Conchita Wurst. Oct 2, 2015, www.rosawienerwiesnfest.at
Wien in Schwarz: there is much more to Vienna’s very own international leather and fetish gettogether than the obligatory leather and fetish parties. It also boasts a fringe program that is
guaranteed to set any self-respecting fetishists‘ pulse racing: events center on HQ and club house
Hard On, and include the perennially popular fetish brunch, a flea market and countless other
attractions. Oct 22-26, 2015, www.lmc-vienna.at
It’s a legal matter – equal rights for everyone!
Vienna is something of a special case among the Austrian provinces when it comes to gay and
lesbian rights, having driven the pace of change in various areas such as civil partnerships and
foster care for several decades now. “Vienna City Council does everything within its power to fight
for equal rights for the gay and lesbian population,” explains Angela Schwarz of the Vienna AntiDiscrimination Agency, WASt. Schwarz sees confirmation of the city’s commitment to equality in
the level of support lent to events such as the Rainbow Parade and, above all, the Life Ball, which
takes place every year inside City Hall.
9
But this was not always the case. In 1768 Empress Maria Theresia introduced the Constitutio
Criminalis Theresiana, a unified criminal law that would see sodomy punishable by death and
outlawed all forms of homosexual activity for both genders. Under the reforms initiated by Emperor
Joseph II, in 1787 Austria became the first country in Europe to repeal the death penalty. However,
the crime of “unnatural sexual activities” would continue to carry a prison sentence of several years
for many decades to come. It was not until 1971 that homosexual acts between consenting adults
were legalized. In 2004 any form of sexual discrimination in the workplace was prohibited by law.
On January 1, 2010 Austria introduced civil partnerships for same sex couples, a legal union which
is largely equivalent to civil marriage (and equal to marriage in terms of its tax and social security
implications). Here too, Vienna played a pioneering role: gay and lesbian couples have been able
register their civil partnerships at any of the Austrian capital’s register offices, with special locations
such as Schönbrunn Palace also an option from the outset. Since its introduction, more than 1,000
gay and lesbian couples have registered civil partnerships. “Vienna fought for a fair civil
partnership right from the start,” Schwarz confirms. Austria’s politicians are currently debating the
prospect of changing the law on marriage to include same sex couples and adoption of stepchildren. Recent studies clearly demonstrate that the population is currently way ahead of many
politicians, with one Austrian daily newspaper reporting in 2013 that fully 61 percent of Austrians
were in favor of opening up marriage to same sex couples. More than half of those asked, 56
percent, supported joint adoption rights for homosexuals. Joint adoption of biological children has
been permitted in Austria since August 1, 2013. At the start of 2015 the law changed to allow
lesbian couples in Austria access to IVF using a sperm donor.
Homosexual foster parents have been part of the Viennese landscape since 1995, when the
capital became the first of the Austrian provinces to allow fostering for same sex couples. “We
have had the same experiences with gay and lesbian foster parents as we have with straight
couples – very good ones,” notes Martina Reichl-Rossbacher, head of the Municipal Department
11 - Vienna Youth and Family Offices adoption and fostering program. It’s not possible to narrow
the numbers down any more than that as “it’s not something we count any more,” she concludes.
Vienna’s credentials as an open and cosmopolitan city can be seen in various different areas,
including a provincial law that states that homosexual couples should be in no way discriminated
against when it comes to allocating social housing. The process of changing personal status for
transgender individuals involves “significantly fewer bureaucratic hurdles in Vienna than in other
cities,” Schwarz confirms. As an employer, Vienna City Council grants gay and lesbian workers all
of the same legal rights as their heterosexual colleagues, a move that extends to aspects such as
care leave. Eva Götz, president of the Queer Business Women association also singles out the
affirmative action undertaken by the Vienna Economic Chamber (WKW) together with the capital’s
10
shopping streets, leading to “more and more businesses presenting themselves as gay and lesbian
friendly.” Headquartered in Vienna, Queer Business Women is an independent association that
serves to promote exchange on a business, personal, economic and professional level between
lesbians living and working in the city.
The work of Vienna’s Anti-Discrimination Agency for lesbian, gay, and transgender individuals
(WASt) is unprecedented. It supports NGOs and projects aimed at improving equality and visibility
for gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Education and schooling is another of WASt’s core
focuses. “We want gays, lesbians, and transgender people to feel at ease in Vienna,” Schwarz
concludes. Thank goodness Vienna really does do things so differently!
Addresses:
Vienna Anti-Discrimination Agency (WASt), Auerspergstrasse 15/21, 1080 Vienna,
www.wien.gv.at/menschen/queer (German only)
Municipal Department 11 - Vienna Youth and Family Offices (MAG ELF), Rüdengasse 11, 1030
Wien, www.wien.gv.at/menschen/magelf
Queer Business Women, Alserstrasse 45/4c, 1080 Vienna, www.queer-business-women.at
www.lifeball.org
www.partnerschaft.wien.at
Additional information on Vienna for gay and lesbian visitors is available at www.vienna.info/gay
and www.facebook.com/GayfriendlyVienna.
11