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How would you react to sexual harassment by gay men?
I had to take this break on Saturday because there were simply a lot of assaults.
Of c… I, male 31 years old, was partying in the club from 26.07.2024 - 29.07.2024 with an interruption on 27.07.2024.
I had to take this break on Saturday because there were simply a lot of assaults.
Of course, my partner and I were aware that Friday was CSD, but as a straight couple you would think that gay men would take this into account.
Our son is currently on vacation with his grandparents and we have two weeks to ourselves, so we wanted to go out partying again and just have fun.
The guys who touched me sometimes came up behind me and grabbed my ass or just grabbed me in a very assaultive way. The grab went into my crotch 4-5 times. As for my stature, I'm stocky and athletic. Normally, most people tend to keep their distance from me and approach me rather hesitantly, but as you get older and become a parent, you become calmer.
I used to react very aggressively when I was younger and would probably have lashed out in confrontational situations back then.
My wife wanted / had to stay next to me, simply because I was touched 8 times in the first hour alone and it got really worse as time went on. After about 4.5 hours, one guy was so bold that he bumped into me and touched my bottom. I thought, okay, he wanted to get through and it's just cramped because there are so many people dancing. After a few minutes (about 2-3 minutes) he came back and this time walked in front of me through the crowd and just grabbed my body with his whole hand.
I immediately showed him my wedding ring and kissed my wife. So I showed passive aggression, no chance. He then said - "Oh your looking so handsome, may I hug you". Of course I was flattered and gave him a quick hug, during which he grabbed my butt. I told him again that I was straight and thought he understood, but had my wife really close to me as a companion the whole time afterwards.
Then after 10 minutes he came again, this time with a friend and he went in front of me and grabbed my cock and his friend really really hard my ass.
A friend of my wife's, who is gay, came over immediately and pushed them both away. We got into a fight and I was really close to smacking the two guys.
But I managed to control myself. Afterwards, I was touched several more times by other men, so we decided to leave on Saturday morning. My wife and others with us were stunned by what happened the whole evening. Mind you, it wasn't just me that something like this happened. A buddy was asked in the restroom if he wanted to give another guy a blowjob. We wanted to write off the proud entrance fee of €25 for the weekend.
But we went back in on Saturday evening and there were still situations like that, but maybe 3-4 times in the rest of the time.
I don't know why, but I didn't enjoy partying on the day of the CSD. It used to be a really good day to celebrate 10 years ago.
For my part, I find this assaultive behavior by men disrespectful and I'm afraid that if I say something against it, I'll be labeled homophobic, which is why I'm only writing this question today.
Was it just a few idiots bundled together in the S....ph....s or has the scene really changed for the worse, as my wife's friend told me a few weeks ago?
that club on csd weekend is basically the wild west, i've had friends dip out early for the same reason. the s....ph....s crowd skews older and more aggressive with the cruising thing, especially during pride when it's rammed. if you want a mixed crowd that actually respects space, try ://about blank on a random saturday or even ritter butzke on a sunday afternoon, way chiller vibe. the 25 euro weekend pass is a joke for that kind of stress anyway, you're better off picking one night and going somewhere with a door that actually cares
You ran into a bad combination of CSD weekend crowds and that club's specific vibe. The S....ph....s has always been more of a cruising-heavy space, especially during pride, and the density of people that weekend makes boundary-pushing way more common. I've heard similar complaints from straight friends who went there during CSD and felt like they were in a meat market rather than a regular club night.
Your experience isn't about the whole scene changing, it's about that venue on that specific weekend. Try KitKat or ://about blank on a normal Saturday if you want a mixed crowd where people actually respect "no" without you needing a wedding ring as a shield. The 25 euro weekend pass is a ripoff anyway for that kind of stress.
Honestly, that sounds like a nightmare. Berlin club crowds during CSD can be a total free-for-all, especially in spots like that one, where boundaries kinda go out the window. It's not the whole scene, just a specific type of dude who thinks the event gives them a pass to be handsy.
I'd skip that place during pride weekend next time, try somewhere like OHM or even a random bar in Neukölln if you want less of that vibe. The price tag for that stress is just insulting.
Berlin on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates.… 🏨 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates. Consider visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) when prices drop by up to 30%.
🚇 Cheap Transport Options
A single public transport ticket costs 3.50 EUR for zones AB, covering most attractions. For longer stays, buy a 7-day ticket for 41 EUR or a Berlin WelcomeCard for unlimited travel and museum discounts. Locals often bike everywhere using the city's extensive bike lanes or rent a bike via Nextbike for 1 EUR per 30 minutes.
🍽️ Eating on a Budget
Grab a currywurst from a street stall for around 3.50 EUR or a döner kebab for 5-6 EUR. For groceries, head to Aldi or Lidl where a loaf of bread costs 1.50 EUR. Many bakeries sell pre-made sandwiches for under 4 EUR, perfect for a picnic in Tiergarten.
🎫 Free Attractions
Visit the Reichstag dome for free (book online in advance) and explore the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall. On Sundays, many museums offer reduced entry or free admission, such as the Museum für Naturkunde (first Sunday of the month free).
💰 Money-Saving Tips
Locals avoid tourist traps by eating at Späti (corner shops) for cheap drinks and snacks. Use the Berlin Pass for free entry to over 50 attractions if you plan to visit many sites, but calculate costs first as it starts at 59 EUR for 48 hours. Always carry cash, as some smaller shops and cafes don't accept cards.
🏛️ Discount Museum Days
Most state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, including the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. On Thursday evenings, the Jewish Museum offers free entry from 6 PM to 8 PM. Check individual museum websites for updated schedules.
🌳 Free Outdoor Activities
Spend a day at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park with free bike rentals and BBQ areas. Rent a paddleboat on the Spree River for 10 EUR per hour or join a free walking tour (tip-based) that covers major landmarks like Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
yeah the guide's got the main stuff down, one thing i'd add is that the späti culture is legit for saving money but specifically the ones in kreuzberg near kottbusser tor have the cheapest beers, like 0.80 eur for a can of sterni. also if you're doing the sunday museum thing, skip the pergamon queue and go to the hamburger bahnhof instead, it's way less crowded and has cool contemporary art plus the building itself is a converted train station so it's a vibe
for food, i'd say the best budget move is not the döner but the falafel at yafa on sonnenallee, 4 eur for a massive plate and it's open till late. and tbh the reichstag booking is a pain but if you miss it, the rooftop at the kollhoff tower near potsdamer platz is like 4 eur and gives you a solid view without the hassle
solid write-up, one thing i'd add is that the 7-day ticket is actually 41 eur for AB but you can get a 4-trip ticket for 12 eur if you're only here a couple days and it works out cheaper than single trips. also the museum sunday freebie is great but it gets packed, like at the pergamon you'll be queuing for 30 mins minimum. for a quieter free option, try the brücke museum in grunewald on a weekday afternoon, it's small but has killer expressionist art and no crowds. oh and for a cheap meal, hit up mustafa's gemüse kebab at mehringdamm, that line is long but it's worth the 5 eur for the hype tbh
honestly the cash tip is huge, a lot of tourists don't realize how many places are still cash only here. something the guide missed is that you can get a really cheap coffee at most bakeries for like 1.50 eur if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down, way cheaper than the hipster cafes. also if you're near a späti grab a beer for like 1 eur, way cheaper than bars obviously