Countering queerphobia under pressure: IU continues queer lecture series from 15 October
Free online lecture series from IU – with Nyke Slawik (Member of the German Bundestag) at the opening and perspectives on the responsibility of social work
Free online lecture series from IU – with Nyke Slawik (MdB) at the opening and perspectives on the responsibility of social work.
Erfurt, 25 September 2026. The living conditions of queer people worldwide are under increasing pressure: discrimination, exclusion, and violence are no longer marginal phenomena. The attack surrounding Berlin's Christopher Street Day in July 2026, in which a woman was killed and more than 30 people were injured, has shockingly exposed the vulnerability of queer life. For social work, this immediately raises the question of how to address these developments and what contribution it can make to the protection, participation, and empowerment of queer people. This is where the Queer Lecture Series at IU International University of Applied Sciences comes in. Following its successful launch in the summer semester of 2025 and its continuation in the winter semester of 2025/26, the online academic series will enter its next phase on October 15.
A space for sound knowledge and constructive exchange
In times when queer achievements are once again being questioned, spaces for sound knowledge and constructive exchange are needed. This series combines scholarly and critical analysis with practical application. It is aimed at social work professionals, students, and anyone interested in social diversity and social justice.
“Queer issues must not remain a niche topic – especially now. They belong at the core of professional responsibility,” say the organisers of the series. “The fact that the first lecture series in the summer of 2025 has now become a permanent format shows that the need for sound knowledge and exchange is great – and it is growing.”
All dates at a glance
(all lectures held in German)
Thurs., 15.10.2026
"Staying steadfast and combative: Queer politics at the federal level"
Nyke Slawik, Member of Parliament, queer policy spokesperson for the parliamentary group Alliance 90/The Greens
Thurs., 22.10.2026
"The discursive formation of queer enemy images in discourse fragments of the extreme right"
Ken Mertens, Research Associate at the Center for Research, Continuing Education and Consulting at ehs Dresden gGmbH
Thurs., 12.11.2026
(Please register informally via email to agqueer@iu.org )
"Transphobic influence on fields of social work in the context of current authoritarian-right shifts"
Prof. Dr Utan Schirmer, Professor of Sociology, Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
Thurs., 10.12.2026 (two posts)
"Narratives and affects in media coverage of trans* and gender self-determination"
Carlo Heidebrecht, Research Associate at the Chair of Journalism and Communication Studies, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Prof. Dr Richard Lemke, Chair of Methods of Empirical Social Research, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
“Challenges of established gender and parental roles”
Prof. Dr Okka Zimmermann, Professor of Social Work, IU International University of Applied Sciences
Jana Szemies, Institute for Management, Technical University of Braunschweig
Thurs., 14.01.2027 (two posts)
“Queer life realities in the context of digital transformation of social work. Between participation, exclusion and professional responsibility”
Nadine van der Meulen, external doctoral candidate at OTH Regensburg (PZSGT), scholarship recipient of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
“Heteronormative barriers for queer people experiencing homelessness”
Eva van Koolwijk, University of Münster, Department II – Social Pedagogy
Participation & Access
- Time: from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Location: Online via Zoom at https://iubh.zoom.us/j/65908802112
- Free of charge, open to all interested parties
- All dates without registration except for November 12th – for this date you will receive a separate Zoom link after your registration (informal with your full name via email to agqueer@iu.org )
Further information can be found at:
https://www.iu.de/duales-studium/praxispartner/praxispartner-veranstaltungen/queere-ringvorlesung-wise-26-27/
The series is moderated and led by:
Prof. Dr Jasmin Brück
Professor of Social Work at IU Campus Würzburg
From October 1st, DHBW Stuttgart
Prof. Dr Kerstin Oldemeier
Professor of Social Work at IU Campus Munich
Prof. Dr Bärbel Schomers
Professor of Social Work at IU Campus Cologne
Prof. Dr Miriam Yildiz
Professor of Social Work at IU Campus Cologne
In November 2024, the four female professors of social work founded the “AG Queer”, a working group that positions queer topics as visible and relevant at IU.
Contact: agqueer@iu.org
With nearly 130,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution, based in Erfurt, began teaching in 2000 and now has 37 campuses. IU stands for maximum flexibility in study: whether through dual study, distance learning or on campus – students from over 160 nations tailor their educational path to suit their individual circumstances. With more than 200 degree programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and MBA level, IU imparts practical skills. Innovative learning concepts foster targeted, future-proof skills for an increasingly AI-driven world of work. A modern, digitally supported learning environment and the use of artificial intelligence enable effective, personalised learning. As a pioneer in this field, IU has developed its own digital learning companion, ‘Syntea’, which has been in use since 2023. A network of over 15,000 companies – including Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn – makes IU a strong partner in the training of skilled workers and consistently links academic teaching with practical experience. Further information at: iu.org
Contact
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IU International University of Applied Sciences Press Department |