Statement on the trans-hostile incident in the Hamam

Dear visitors* of the Hamam, dear friends* and users* of the Chocolate Factory,

On Thursday 25 May 2023, a trans-hostile incident occurred in the Hamam, as a result of which, in our view, two wrong decisions were made. Firstly, the woman involved was not refunded the money for her visit, and secondly, the police were called when the woman and others in solidarity with her refused to leave. The money has since been transferred to all the people involved.

We, part of the college and the board of the association Frauenzentrum Schokoladenfabrik e.V., which runs the hamam, apologise both to the woman and to all trans* people for this discrimination and violation of solidarity-based feminist practice.

As the board and staff of the association Frauenzentrum Schokoladenfabrik e.V., we have been critically engaging with the white and cis-normative power structures within the association for several years. We are in a long process of opening up the Chocolate Factory, which emerged from the women's movement in the 70s and 80s, and its areas to women, trans*, inter- and non-binary people.

Despite counselling and training, discriminatory practices have occurred and continue to occur in the Hamam. We cannot currently guarantee a non-discriminatory environment for trans*, inter* and non-binary people here.

As a board and staff, we now have to re-position ourselves and take time to think through the opening policy in the Hamam in all consistency.

For us it is clear that we see the Hamam as a place that we as women, lesbians, trans*, inter, non-binary people urgently need to relax and meet. We work for this place to be shared in solidarity in the future and to be gender-sensitive, critical of power and racism.


Board Women's Centre Schokofabrik e.V.