© dpa
Queer employees in the capital's administration want to improve their networking. The first official meeting of the administration's so-called rainbow network took place on Tuesday.
This was announced by the Senate Department for Labour and Social Affairs, which is also responsible for anti-discrimination. "The network is aimed at queer employees of the state of Berlin and is intended to promote collegial exchange and greater sensitivity to queer lifestyles in the administration."
The creation of the network was supported by the financial administration, which is responsible for state personnel. Finance Senator Stefan Evers emphasised that the diversity of the administration's employees is a reflection of the city. "With the Berlin administration's rainbow network, we are emphasising our joint aspiration to further promote this diversity and make it visible," said the CDU politician. "We have already set new priorities in personnel marketing and will be working intensively in the coming months on the further development of recruitment, a welcoming culture and a new management mission statement."
The initiative for the rainbow network goes back to the diversity state programme and the 2019 LGBTIQ+ action plan of the initiative "Berlin stands up for self-determination and acceptance of gender and sexual diversity". According to the information provided, this action plan is currently being updated and expanded. An initial network meeting was held at the State Centre for Political Education in June with around 60 participants.