There is also gay life away from the big cities. IWWIT roll model Enrico explains how to be happy as a gay man in the provinces
Clean air, low crime rate, milk warm as an udder straight from the farmer: life in a place where foxes and hares say goodnight has its advantages. Enrico, role model at IWWIT, lives in Erfurt, a city with a population of around 200,000. He says: "Erfurt is super nice to live in, it's a good place to be. I travel a lot and have friends in other cities that I visit, so Erfurt in the centre of Germany is a good starting point."
Most gay men live in big cities like Cologne, Hamburg or Munich. So it's only logical that smaller towns don't have as diverse a nightlife scene as Berlin, for example. Enrico says: "In general, it's very organised here, Erfurt may be the capital of Thuringia, but the scene is small and very manageable. I hardly ever go out in Erfurt because I don't find myself here."
But partying and going out are not so important to him when he gets home. Enrico, who works for an international fashion company and travels a lot, says: "Erfurt is my haven of peace!" That can be inconvenient: "Especially those who want to be sexually active and live out their preferences and fetishes have to get in the car and drive somewhere else. The rest either take advantage of the few offers and are frustrated. Or they avoid them and organise their own private evenings with friends."
Unlike in the big cities, you can't rely on a commercial scene and have to be active yourself: "There are a few small rays of hope, things that are organised by private individuals with a lot of love. But they are irregular and nothing you can rely on. You have to create a small community that regularly organises things together." It pays to look after your network.
And, as always and everywhere, you just need the right attitude to be happy in the provinces: "Many people simply expect too much and look enviously to the metropolises. We should look after what we have, otherwise things will look bleak in a few years' time." And ultimately, the internet has made gay life easier - even in the provinces. Enrico says: "It's a good forum. The internet has brought the world closer together."
Clemens Glade
