Sylt is becoming safer: Clubs rely on Safe Places” at Pentecost!

Sylt is becoming safer: Clubs rely on Safe Places” at Pentecost!

After the racist incidents at the Pony club on Sylt last year, an initiative was launched to make nightlife safer. Managing Director Tom Kinder announced that the club will set up two “Safe Places” at Pentecost 2025, where staff will be available to provide support if guests feel uncomfortable or observe problematic situations. Kinder is expecting numerous revelers from all over Germany in Kampen at Pentecost and is optimistic that last year's incident was an isolated case.

In May 2024, racist slogans were shouted in the bar in Kampen, which led to investigations into sedition. A video of the incident went viral, and the Flensburg public prosecutor's office has closed the investigation against three of the four people involved. However, a penalty order was applied for against a 26-year-old. Despite these incidents, Kinder stressed that the club does not want to attract an audience that represents extremist ideas.

Initiatives for a safe nightlife

The problem of discrimination in nightlife is not new. Common incidents such as offensive pickup lines and abusive behavior make it necessary to create a safe environment. For this reason, the Pop Department and the Safe the Dance initiative have developed an awareness guide for clubs and festivals. This guide aims to make nightlife more inclusive and also fight discrimination.

The guide offers clubs, collectives and organizers tools to promote respectful and considerate interactions. Workshops and lectures on topics such as gender equality, diversity and intersectionality were created to raise awareness of these topics. A digital think tank on awareness and diversity was also founded to promote exchange between creatives and organizers.

Feedback and challenges

Feedback on the awareness guide was mostly positive, but its publication during a period of club closures was perceived as unfortunate. Many companies were unable to deal intensively with the guidelines due to crises and staff shortages. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable interest in the Munich pop scene to create new awareness of the issues of diversity and discrimination. Club operators, staff and creative people have the opportunity to act as multipliers and advance the process of creating a so-called “safer space”.

Efforts to promote a safe and welcoming nightlife scene are an important step in combating discrimination. These initiatives are not only important for the guests, but also for the entire night culture in Germany, which should promote respectful coexistence. More and more club operators are recognizing the need to create an inclusive and safe environment where everyone is welcome.