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Sprechstunde mit Elke Prinz
Consultation hours with Elke Prinz
Event by: Humboldt Forum
Location: Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss, Schloßplatz 1, Berlin - Mitte
About event
[English below] Consultation hour with Elke Prinz - Questions about queer life in the GDR and today
As “emancipation from above”, equality between men and women was part of the GDR's official family and social policy. However, just as in West Germany, homosexuality was taboo. How did queer East German women create spaces in which they could love and live freely? What can we learn from their experiences for the present, in which queer life continues to be or is even more under pressure? How has the situation developed and what images of family are queer people confronted with - then and now?
Elke Prinz knows what it means to shape family outside of normative ideas. Since the end of the 1990s she has been involved in the Dornrosa e.V. women's center for women's economics in Halle, where she is one of the board members. The association offers shelters for girls and women, is an advice center and a place for education and encounters. Elke Prinz helped build an extensive queer feminist library there, organizes readings and represents the association in various local and state committees.
As a contemporary witness, Elke Prinz makes the situation of lesbian women in the GDR visible. She develops and oversees traveling exhibitions on women's and queer history topics - sometimes together with young people. As one of the protagonists of the documentary Riverside Women - Lesbian Life in the GDR, she reports on unconventional family planning and the fight for self-determination. In addition to a podcast series about the work of Dornrosa, she has been creating series on women's and equality policy issues for a local radio station for more than 15 years. For her long-standing commitment to unprejudiced, democratic coexistence, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in October 2025.
During consultation hours in the Humboldt Forum, you can ask experts your questions directly and easily - without making an appointment or waiting lists! The focus is on the open exchange of ideas with the audience.
More information: https://kurzlinks.de/me8y
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[EN] Consultation Hour with Elke Prinz - Questions on queer life in the GDR and today
As an ‘emancipation from above,’ gender equality was part of the official family and social policy of the GDR. Yet homosexuality, as in West Germany, remained taboo. How did queer East German women create spaces where they could love and live? What can we learn from their experiences for the present day, when queer life continues to be under pressure, if no longer so? How has the situation evolved, and what images of family do queer people confront – then and now?
Elke Prinz knows what it means to shape family beyond normative ideas. Since the late 1990s, she has been active at the women's center Weiberwirtschaft of Dornrosa e.V. in Halle, where she is one of the board members. The association provides safe spaces for girls and women, offers counseling, and is a place for learning and exchange. Elke Prinz helped to build up an extensive queer-feminist library there, organizes readings, and represents the organization in various municipal and state committees.
As a contemporary witness, Elke Prinz brings to light the experiences of lesbian women in the GDR. She develops and curates traveling exhibitions on women’s and queer history – sometimes in collaboration with local school students. As one of the protagonists of the documentary Uferfrauen – Lesbian L(i)ves in the GDR, she speaks about unconventional approaches to family and the struggle for self-determination. In addition to a podcast series about the work of Dornrosa, she has been hosting monthly radio shows on women’s and gender equality issues for more than fifteen years. In recognition of her long-standing commitment to an open-minded and democratic society, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in October 2025.
During the Consultation Hour at the Humboldt Forum, you can talk directly with the experts – no appointment or waiting list required! It’s all about relaxed and open exchange with the audience.
More information: https://kurzlinks.de/vzb5
Picture credits: image 1: Elke Prinz © Sibylle Mundt
image 2: Event, Mechanical Arena © Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss, photo: Andreas King
As “emancipation from above”, equality between men and women was part of the GDR's official family and social policy. However, just as in West Germany, homosexuality was taboo. How did queer East German women create spaces in which they could love and live freely? What can we learn from their experiences for the present, in which queer life continues to be or is even more under pressure? How has the situation developed and what images of family are queer people confronted with - then and now?
Elke Prinz knows what it means to shape family outside of normative ideas. Since the end of the 1990s she has been involved in the Dornrosa e.V. women's center for women's economics in Halle, where she is one of the board members. The association offers shelters for girls and women, is an advice center and a place for education and encounters. Elke Prinz helped build an extensive queer feminist library there, organizes readings and represents the association in various local and state committees.
As a contemporary witness, Elke Prinz makes the situation of lesbian women in the GDR visible. She develops and oversees traveling exhibitions on women's and queer history topics - sometimes together with young people. As one of the protagonists of the documentary Riverside Women - Lesbian Life in the GDR, she reports on unconventional family planning and the fight for self-determination. In addition to a podcast series about the work of Dornrosa, she has been creating series on women's and equality policy issues for a local radio station for more than 15 years. For her long-standing commitment to unprejudiced, democratic coexistence, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in October 2025.
During consultation hours in the Humboldt Forum, you can ask experts your questions directly and easily - without making an appointment or waiting lists! The focus is on the open exchange of ideas with the audience.
More information: https://kurzlinks.de/me8y
___
[EN] Consultation Hour with Elke Prinz - Questions on queer life in the GDR and today
As an ‘emancipation from above,’ gender equality was part of the official family and social policy of the GDR. Yet homosexuality, as in West Germany, remained taboo. How did queer East German women create spaces where they could love and live? What can we learn from their experiences for the present day, when queer life continues to be under pressure, if no longer so? How has the situation evolved, and what images of family do queer people confront – then and now?
Elke Prinz knows what it means to shape family beyond normative ideas. Since the late 1990s, she has been active at the women's center Weiberwirtschaft of Dornrosa e.V. in Halle, where she is one of the board members. The association provides safe spaces for girls and women, offers counseling, and is a place for learning and exchange. Elke Prinz helped to build up an extensive queer-feminist library there, organizes readings, and represents the organization in various municipal and state committees.
As a contemporary witness, Elke Prinz brings to light the experiences of lesbian women in the GDR. She develops and curates traveling exhibitions on women’s and queer history – sometimes in collaboration with local school students. As one of the protagonists of the documentary Uferfrauen – Lesbian L(i)ves in the GDR, she speaks about unconventional approaches to family and the struggle for self-determination. In addition to a podcast series about the work of Dornrosa, she has been hosting monthly radio shows on women’s and gender equality issues for more than fifteen years. In recognition of her long-standing commitment to an open-minded and democratic society, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in October 2025.
During the Consultation Hour at the Humboldt Forum, you can talk directly with the experts – no appointment or waiting list required! It’s all about relaxed and open exchange with the audience.
More information: https://kurzlinks.de/vzb5
Picture credits: image 1: Elke Prinz © Sibylle Mundt
image 2: Event, Mechanical Arena © Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss, photo: Andreas King