Berlin Pride: A personal note

Tuesday, July 28 You were meant to read our August newsletter today, full of event tips and updates about our Berlin, where queer life never stands still. But it does. It was the greatest honor for Q*OMPASS to become the official partner app of Berlin Pride so soon after launching our project. All the incredible volunteers behind Pride Month, the two-day festival as its highlight, the debut of the amazing Drag* March, and the finale of the 48th Berlin CSD in Tiergarten – and then the catastrophe

. We are paralyzed. Yes, all of us will get back on our feet, wiser and stronger than before. But not today. On Saturday, we couldn’t comprehend what had happened. On Sunday, we wandered through the city in a daze. On Monday morning, we gathered ourselves, only to fall apart again by the evening. The shock comes in waves. The noise of politics, intrusive interview requests, and the storm on social media are nothing compared to the emptiness in our minds and the silence in our communities. It was

too much. What we do know is this: we are not alone, we have each other. Some are already seeking connection, others still prefer to be by themselves. At least Berlin has loads of places where queer people are welcome, where they can be themselves. Queer spaces are here to support us. And they must remain so, after grief and anger begin to fade. So let’s preserve these places through our presence and attention. Because nothing can be taken for granted anymore. #supportqueerspaces Now more than

ever. Your Q*OMPASS team will be back for you soon. Thank you for your understanding.