BDSM Berlin

BDSM Berlin e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) based in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to providing information, education, and community for people interested in BDSM and sadomasochism. It grew out of a regulars' table (Stammtisch) of the IRC channel #bdsm.de, which first met on 4 June 1997. On 5 July 1998, participants founded the Berlin Munch, a weekly low-threshold gathering that continues to this day. The association itself was officially registered on 21 September 1999 as a joint project of the Berlin Munch and the Stammtisch. The association's primary goals are to support individuals in coming to terms with their BDSM interests and to reduce stereotypes and prejudices surrounding sadomasochistic sexuality. It offers a wide range of events, including open Stammtische, beginner meetings, themed evenings, discussion groups, and workshops on topics such as bondage or SM and health. Most activities are carried out by volunteers, and non-members are welcome to participate. The association also engages in public relations work, for example at events like Folsom Europe and Christopher Street Day, and maintains a list of Kink Aware Professionals—psychologists, physicians, lawyers, and other professionals familiar with BDSM—who can serve as qualified contacts in crises. BDSM Berlin e.V. is notable for introducing the originally American concept of the Munch to the German-speaking world and served as an important model for the transition of digitally networked organizational structures into physical community spaces. Its founding had a catalytic effect on the emergence of similar organizations throughout the German-speaking region. The association is a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung e.V. and cooperates with Pro Familia and AIDS service organizations. Its best-known founding member is Ingeborg Bachmann Prize winner Kathrin Passig.

BDSM Berlin e.V. traces its origins to the IRC channel #bdsm.de, which served as a digital meeting point for German-speaking BDSM enthusiasts in the 1990s. On 4 June 1997, the first Berlin Stammtisch (regulars' table) of the channel took place, marking the beginning of regular offline gatherings. On 5 July 1998, participants of this Stammtisch founded the Berlin Munch, a weekly low-threshold event that has continued without interruption since then. The Munch concept, originally from the United States, was thus introduced to the German-speaking world for the first time. On 21 September 1999, BDSM Berlin e.V. was officially registered as a joint project of the Berlin Munch and the Stammtisch. The association was founded by volunteers, among them the writer Kathrin Passig, who later won the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. From the outset, the association aimed to provide information, reduce prejudices, and offer a safe space for people interested in BDSM, particularly beginners. Over the years, BDSM Berlin e.V. expanded its activities to include a wide range of events: open Stammtische, beginner meetings, themed evenings, discussion groups, and workshops on specific techniques such as bondage or health issues related to SM. The association also became active in public relations, representing BDSM interests at events like Folsom Europe and Christopher Street Day, and cooperating with organizations such as Pro Familia and AIDS service organizations. It is a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung e.V. A significant innovation was the introduction of a list of Kink Aware Professionals, following models from the USA and England. This list includes psychologists, physicians, lawyers, and other professionals who are knowledgeable about BDSM and can provide qualified support in crises. BDSM Berlin e.V. was one of the first associations in the German-speaking region to offer such a resource. The association's founding had a catalytic effect on the development of similar organizations throughout the German-speaking region. Today, comparable structures exist in many cities. BDSM Berlin e.V. continues to be run entirely by volunteers and remains a central point of contact for the Berlin BDSM scene.

• First Berlin Stammtisch of the IRC channel #bdsm.de takes place.

• Berlin Munch founded by participants of the Stammtisch; it has been held weekly since.

• BDSM Berlin e.V. registered as a joint project of the Berlin Munch and the Stammtisch.

A non-profit, volunteer-run association providing low-threshold information and community for BDSM-interested people in Berlin, with a focus on beginners and public education.

• Stammtische (regulars' tables)

  Open, public regulars' tables for BDSM-interested people.

• Beginner meetings

  Low-threshold meetings specifically for newcomers and those with questions.

• Themed evenings

  Evenings focused on specific BDSM-related topics.

• Workshops

  Workshops on specific techniques such as bondage or SM and health.

• Discussion groups

  Regular discussion groups on various aspects of BDSM.

• Kink Aware Professionals list

  A list of BDSM-aware psychologists, physicians, lawyers, and other professionals.

1. 1BDSM-Berlin e.V. – BDSM Berlin e.V.bdsm-berlin.de
2. 2Der Verein – BDSM-Berlin e.V.bdsm-berlin.de
3. 3BDSM Berlin – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4BDSM Berlin – Wikidatawikidata.org