Our Awareness Concept

Our Stance and Event Goals:

We want to empower people and accompany them in developing an awareness of their own sexuality and health. This encompasses physical, psychological, and social health. In doing so, we treat all people with respect, compassion, and dignity, regardless of their HIV status, gender, sexual orientation and identity, age, ethnic background and origin, religion and worldview, disability, or social situation.

It is important to us to bring the topic of sexual health in all its facets closer to people while reflecting the diversity of sexuality as well as different sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship forms. We always strive to create a sex-positive, discrimination-sensitive, safe, and non-violent setting where people feel comfortable, can open up, and learn together.

Even at events outside of the Aidshilfe, it is important to us to create a safer space. We want to anticipate various needs and respond to them in the best possible way. We want everyone to feel comfortable and know who they can turn to if that is not the case.

Ensuring this is the shared responsibility of us, the staff and awareness person of the Aidshilfe, as well as any external lecturers.

Role of our Awareness Person

The awareness person must be present and approachable for anyone who needs them. They do not have to actively intervene everywhere. However, they should keep an eye on the group they are responsible for and be attentive enough to notice when they are needed. Basically, every adult is responsible for themselves and should be able to ask for help and communicate boundaries. The awareness person should not force themselves on others and must respect boundaries. This requires a high degree of emotional intelligence and empathy. We do not assign this task lightly, but only to individuals we trust. And we do not leave the awareness person alone: professionals are available for them at all times during an assignment, either on-site or by phone.

General Duties of the Awareness Person:

Ensure rules are implemented and intervene if necessary, for example by: moderating, introducing new perspectives, admonishing, sending someone away, protecting those affected, etc.
Reflect on one's own attitude and language to maintain a queer-friendly, sex- / kink-positive, and discrimination-sensitive baseline attitude.
In emergencies: Get help from the lecturing person and the Aidshilfe team; make an emergency call. The awareness person does not have to do anything that they are not professionally and emotionally capable of handling!

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Rules for Events at the Aidshilfe (on-site):

Everyone is offered the opportunity to wear a name tag, on which pronouns can also be entered. If this is used, the names and pronouns must be respected.
All participation is voluntary.
Every person may leave the room or leave entirely at any time.
Every person may adopt whatever physical posture they wish, provided they do not disturb others.
We prepare two rooms for withdrawal; in both, the doors are open, the lights are on, and drinks are available. The rooms are marked with a sign on which people can indicate whether they wish to be alone or not. It is also possible to withdraw while leaving the door open so that content from the event can still be heard.
Anyone who does not adhere to the basic rules of respectful communication or who opposes the queer-friendly, sex-/kink-positive, discrimination-sensitive fundamental attitude will be admonished or immediately expelled from the room.
Alcohol and other controlled substances are prohibited in our rooms.

Specifics for Events Requiring Registration

For sensitive topics, participants must register so we can control the group size and target audience, which is essential for a safer space.

The following applies to these events:

Registration is mandatory and binding.
Only registered individuals are allowed to participate. If someone is being picked up, the external person must wait outside until the event is over.
If a person needs an accompaniment person, this person must also be firmly registered. For target-group-specific events, the accompaniment person must belong to the respective target group.
Needs regarding formatting, content, and accessibility are already requested during registration. In the registration confirmation, everyone receives a link to an anonymous survey for wishes / questions / concerns (> to the survey).

Duties of the Speaker:

Describe the event well: What are the contents? What is the format? How interactive will it be? What can participants expect? etc. And importantly: Stick to the description afterward.
Reflect on one's own attitude and language to maintain a queer-friendly, sex- / kink-positive, and discrimination-sensitive baseline attitude.
Point out voluntariness at all times.

Duties of the Awareness Person

Welcome guests, offer name tags, but also point out here that this is voluntary.
Collect money in a separate room so that no one sees how much each person pays.
Take over the welcome at the beginning of the event:
- Welcome guests to the Aidshilfe
- Introduce yourself as the awareness person and point out that you are available at any time
- Explain the rooms: especially restrooms, food, access to the balcony, retreat rooms
- Briefly explain the rules: especially voluntariness, prohibition of intoxicants, respectful treatment of one another
If someone retreats to a room: Check whether the person wants to be alone or not. If not: Offer emotional support, offer drinks and snacks, and ask about illnesses and medication if necessary.

For JOYclub members: On-site verification
We are allowed to carry out the verification and the FSK18 check for JOYclub members on-site. People register with this option so that we know in advance who needs a check. This is how it is then carried out:
Authentication - Information for Clubs and Group Leaders

Additional Measures

Selection of Speakers: We pay attention to their attitude, qualifications, suitability, and experience in workshop design or group leadership. Each person is initially scheduled for only one event; further events are only planned after an evaluation of the collaboration, the event, and participant feedback.
Participants: Participants are informed in advance about punctuality and respectful treatment of one another. Punctuality is important so that the group composition does not change too frequently and mutual trust can be built.
Catering: We provide drinks and snacks. Especially in summer, people are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids. The snacks consist of sweet and savory options as well as fruit and vegetables. The catering is vegan; anything deviating from this is labeled. The packaging remains nearby so that allergens can be checked if necessary.
Evaluation: All events are evaluated. Participants receive the link to the survey on-site and afterward via email (>find the evaluation here). Feedback is taken seriously.

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Rules for Events Outside of the Aidshilfe (off-site):

Duties and attendance times are assigned in advance and must be adhered to.
A designated person is appointed for each event to act as the primary contact for all helpers and outsiders.
An awareness person is assigned to every larger event. They must be visible and approachable, and they take on specific tasks.
Whenever possible, the Aidshilfe provides snacks and drinks. If this is not feasible, helpers are informed that they should bring their own provisions or receive a flat rate to supply themselves.
If a person is not feeling well, they must inform the person in charge or the awareness person. Please do not simply leave the event!
Anyone who does not adhere to the basic rules of respectful communication or who opposes the queer-friendly, sex- / kink-positive, discrimination-sensitive fundamental attitude will be admonished or directly expelled from the event.
Alcohol and other controlled substances are prohibited at our events.

Duties of the Person in Charge

Be approachable for all concerns.
Know the duties and shifts of each individual helper.
Ensure the rules are implemented and intervene if necessary, for example by: moderating, introducing new perspectives, admonishing, sending someone away, protecting those affected, etc.
Reflect on one's own attitude and language to maintain a queer-friendly, sex- / kink-positive, and discrimination-sensitive baseline attitude.

Duties of the Awareness Person

Respond to requests for help from our helpers; but also proactively reach out if needed.
When someone needs support: Offer emotional support, provide drinks and snacks, and ask about illnesses and medication if necessary.

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Important Emergency Numbers: