Germany’s Queersupport counselling service for LGBT youth to close

On 3 November, the German youth organisation Lambda announced that it would close its nationwide Queersupport counselling service by the end of 2026. Queer.de reports that the service has already stopped taking new requests. Ongoing counselling will wrap up by the end of the year, and those who need further help will be directed to other services.

Queersupport provides counselling to LGBT people aged 14 to 27 through specialists and trained young volunteers. Lambda says it has received more requests recently and that a growing number concern family violence, suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

In July, the federal family and youth ministry, headed by Karin Prien (CDU), terminated its framework funding agreement with Lambda effective at the end of 2026. In a reply to the Bundestag, the government cited the need for budget savings and said the organisation could still apply for funding. Lambda says the funds covered a substantial share of Queersupport’s work. It was unable to make up the shortfall and is preparing new applications in an effort to resume counselling.

Lambda has counselled LGBT youth since 1995. On 31 October, the German Federal Youth Council opposed the termination of the framework funding and called for long-term support for Lambda’s work.