Christopher Street Day Parade Munich on June 24, 2023

The work of the Diversity & Queer Department

"The university should be a space where you can express yourself freely and not have to pretend," says Thomas Nguyen. "A space where you can develop your full potential, your true self." The focus of the work at the department is "queer", but the diversity aspect is also important. "And diverse refers to every individual characteristic that makes you different.” The department is a contact point and a safe space for everyone. Anyone can drop by and there is a regular meeting once a week. In addition, events are organized such as lecture hall slams or regulars' tables and, as a highlight, participation in the annual CSD parade. Space and community are just as important as the message that there is no place for sexism, homophobia or trans* hostility in academica.

Promoting issues

The Diversity & Queer Department also has a political agenda, of course. "We want to advance issues." For homosexual people, Nguyen says, TUM is now a good environment. They feel accepted, they feel they have arrived "in the middle". This is less true for trans* people. It is not easy to understand why TUM, like other large universities, does not implement the name changes requested by trans* students, says Thomas Nguyen.

"For trans* people, the use of the so-called 'dead name', i.e. the name before transition, can be very stressful," he explains. "Giving their new, self-chosen name is identity-building and an important part of their transition."

CSD Parade with around 300 fellow students

This year, the department is again represented at the CSD in Munich, this time as a foot group. There will be no float, and the large, rainbow-colored TUM logo that was used in previous years is currently placed  at the Garnix Festival in Garching. The affiliation to TUM will be shown with t-shirts.

Of course, everybody is welcome here too. Those who have already registered will receive a goodie bag in advance with a printed t-shirt, small gimmicks and a drink. "Very important, because it will be hot on Saturday," says Thomas Nguyen. After the parade, the group will therefore probably move to the cooler Englischer Garten.