German Society for Social-Scientific Sexuality Research
Professional services
UnclaimedGerman professional society devoted to social-scientific sexuality research, sexological education, and sexual counselling.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The German Society for Social-Scientific Sexuality Research, commonly known by its German name Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung or the abbreviation DGSS, is a sexuality research and counselling organization based in Düsseldorf, Germany. Founded in 1971 by sexologist Rolf Gindorf and colleagues, it is described as the oldest non-medical sexological society in German-speaking Europe. Its work has been directed toward understanding human sexuality through sociology, behavioral science, psychology, cultural studies, ethnology, education, law, and history, alongside established biological, physiological, and medical perspectives. The society’s central intellectual position is that sexuality cannot be adequately understood solely as a medical or biological phenomenon. From its foundation, it promoted interdisciplinary research into the social organization, cultural meanings, behavioral patterns, and historical variation of sexualities. Its activities have encompassed research exchange, professional networking, academic conferences, publications, public education, and counselling. The organization has also maintained international links through advisory boards, congresses, and collaboration with sexological associations in Europe and other regions. In 1978, the DGSS expanded beyond its scientific and research activities by establishing the DGSS-Institut, a counselling institute. According to the referenced account, the institute has provided sexual counselling or psychotherapy to more than 33,000 clients. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients have represented a substantial part of this work. Since 1983, the organization has also provided AIDS counselling and HIV testing, reflecting its involvement in public-health and sexual-health responses during the HIV/AIDS era. The DGSS has operated with limited financial resources and modest external support, but has continued to organize national and international sexological congresses. Its publishing activity includes books and the series Schriftenreihe Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung, published by de Gruyter from 1986 and by LIT Verlag from 2003. These activities have helped document research associated with the society and its members. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the DGSS renewed connections with Berlin, a historic center of sexological research associated with Magnus Hirschfeld and the sexological conferences begun there in 1921. Its congress program subsequently included events in Berlin, Lüneburg, Munich, and other German locations, often attracting participants from Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. The society has also awarded Magnus Hirschfeld Medals for Sexual Science and Sexual Reform since 1990. Its documented leadership has included Rolf Gindorf, Helmut Kentler, Ernest Borneman, Erwin J. Haeberle, Gunter Runkel, and Jakob Pastoetter.
History
The DGSS was founded in 1971 by Rolf Gindorf and colleagues as a society dedicated to social-scientific approaches to sexuality. It developed in opposition to narrow understandings of sexology centered exclusively on medicine or biology, arguing that sexuality should also be studied through sociology, psychology, behavioral science, cultural analysis, ethnology, education, law, and history. The organization became the oldest non-medical sexological society in German-speaking Europe and built relationships with sexological institutions in Germany and abroad. In 1978, the society established the DGSS-Institut, extending its work into professional sexual counselling and psychotherapy. More than 33,000 clients are reported to have received counselling through the institute. The organization has served diverse clients, including substantial numbers of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. From 1983 onward, it also offered AIDS counselling and HIV testing, linking its research mission with practical sexual-health services. Despite limited funding and relatively little outside support, the DGSS organized a continuing series of national and international congresses. Its publication program included books and the Schriftenreihe Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung series, issued by de Gruyter from 1986 and by LIT Verlag from 2003. These publications provided an outlet for sexological scholarship connected with the society and its members. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the DGSS was able to return its congress activity to Berlin, a city with a major historical connection to sexology through Magnus Hirschfeld and the conferences initiated there in 1921. The 13th DGSS Congress and 6th International Berlin Conference for Sexology took place at Humboldt University from July 25 to 27, 1997, with the theme “100 Years of Gay Liberation.” The 14th DGSS Congress and 5th European Federation of Sexology Conference followed in Berlin from June 29 to July 2, 2000, focusing on sexual health and attracting approximately 270 delegates from 34 countries. Later congresses included the 15th conference at Leuphana University in Lüneburg in 2002, the 16th conference on “Sexualities and Social Change” in Lüneburg in 2004, the 17th conference on “Sexuality and Love” in Lüneburg in 2006, and the 18th conference on “Sexuality and the Media” in Munich in 2008. The society has also maintained international advisory and governing relationships involving scholars such as Rüdiger Lautmann, John Money, Gisela Bleibtreu-Ehrenberg, John Gagnon, Igor Kon, Liu Dalin, and Martin S. Weinberg. Since 1990, it has awarded Magnus Hirschfeld Medals for Sexual Science and Sexual Reform. The listed presidents are Rolf Gindorf, Helmut Kentler, Ernest Borneman, Erwin J. Haeberle, Gunter Runkel, and Jakob Pastoetter. The available reference material does not provide a current institutional financial profile, membership count, or detailed information about the society’s present-day operations beyond its official website.
- 2008
Conference on sexuality and the media
[1]The 18th DGSS Conference took place in Munich and examined the relationship between sexuality and media.
- 2000
International sexual-health conference in Berlin
[1]The DGSS co-hosted the 5th European Federation of Sexology Conference in Berlin.
- 1997
Berlin congress on gay liberation
[1]The 13th DGSS Congress and 6th International Berlin Conference for Sexology were held at Humboldt University.
- 1990
Magnus Hirschfeld Medals introduced
[1]The society began awarding medals recognizing contributions to sexual science and sexual reform.
- 1983
AIDS counselling and HIV testing introduced
[1]The DGSS began offering AIDS counselling and HIV testing.
- 1978
DGSS-Institut established
[1]The organization added a counselling institute to its scientific and research work.
- 1971
Society founded
[1]Rolf Gindorf and colleagues established the DGSS as a society focused on social-scientific sexuality research.
Products and positioning
An interdisciplinary, non-medical sexological society emphasizing sociological, behavioral, cultural, psychological, educational, legal, and historical approaches to sexuality, combined with counselling and sexual-health services.
Sexual counselling and psychotherapy · 1978
DGSS-Institut counselling
The DGSS-Institut is the society’s counselling branch, established in 1978. It provides sexual counselling and psychotherapy and has served a broad client base, including considerable numbers of gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients. The referenced history reports more than 33,000 clients receiving counselling through the institute.
Sexual-health services · 1983
AIDS counselling and HIV testing
Since 1983, the DGSS has provided AIDS counselling and HIV testing. This service formed part of the organization’s practical response to sexual-health needs and complemented its academic and counselling activities.
Scholarly publication series · 1986
Schriftenreihe Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung
This book series presents social-scientific sexuality research associated with the DGSS and its members. It was published by de Gruyter beginning in 1986 and by LIT Verlag from 2003, providing a durable academic record of sexological research.
Academic conferences
DGSS congresses
The society organizes national and international congresses covering social-scientific sexology, sexual health, sexualities, love, social change, and media. Documented events have been held in Berlin, Lüneburg, and Munich, with participation from multiple continents.
Brand decisions
1983
Addition of HIV-related servicesStrategyBackground
The emerging AIDS crisis created a need for accessible sexual-health information, counselling, and testing.
Action taken
The DGSS added AIDS counselling and HIV testing to its activities.
Aftermath
The society’s service profile expanded beyond research and general sexual counselling into HIV-related public-health support.
1978
Expansion into counsellingStrategyBackground
The DGSS sought to complement research and scientific exchange with direct services for people experiencing sexual concerns.
Action taken
It established the DGSS-Institut as a counselling and psychotherapy unit.
Aftermath
The institute became a long-running practical component of the organization and is reported to have served more than 33,000 clients.
Sources2 sources
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