When Felise passes through the doors of Bergon, she does not feel like an outsider. Even though she uses wheelchairs, she feels like a crowd – another regular in Germany’s most famous Techno Club. He is used for tamping bass, late night and strict door policy – and the feeling of being seen and accepted by strangers.
Berlin Clubs such as Berlin Clubs cultivate fast images as a “safe place” for queuing people and disabled people – inclusive spaces where people can safely party and easily feel.
Many clubs work with awareness teams and try to keep their line-up and guest lists diverse by taking a stand against discrimination. But how accessible and inclusive is the thesis spaces in reality – both physical and social?
‘I want to appear – even when clubbing’
Felise is 20 years old. He is a proposer from a small town in Saxony and recently to Berlin. As a young child, he was detected a genetic disorder and uses wheelchairs to move around. But he does not stop him from partying. And his favorite club is Berganen.
“I am not just a person in a wheelchair – I am a part of this scene. I don’t want to stay at home just because it makes a little more efforts to clubbing,” Felise told DW.
And additional efforts are definitely included. Even before going out, Felies have to plan some things: “I always need someone to go with me – so they can help me and therefore that trust is important.”
Then the practice questions are: Is there any working lift? Can a wheelchair come through the entrance? What are the stairs? Is there a accessible residual room? Felise says that it is surprisingly difficult that even for the thesis of Gesvars, clubbing in wheelchairs is not a subject that pays a lot of attention.
Felise has the most difficult door open to him
And yet, she clubbing anyway – often in Burghene, and sometimes in other clubs. “First of all, I was worried about whether I would make it,” he explained, first he visited Berlin’s famous Techno Paradise. “This place is known for its strict door policy, and I did not know what they would say,” Sorry, there is no wheelchair here. ” But there was no problem.
But there are more obstacles in addition to stairs and narrow toilet stalls. People play a role so. “Many of them do not know how to deal with me. Some placed their empty glass bottles under my wheelchair. Or they lay their jackets on it, as if I was something quotable,” he explained. “But I am not a child of obstruction. My wheelchair is my part.”
She would like to keep people more sympathetic – and she wants to enjoy more commonness. “I do not want to see continuously like something. I am just a person who likes to dance and party.”
‘Show people who I am’
Her personal style reflects the attitude: “Certainly, the black club is part of the look. But I like to spice things with striking accessories. I want to feel comfortable, and I want to show those who are M.”. For a long time, she used to worry a lot about her what was thought about her. “But I am working on accepting my body and not conforming. This is a process.”
His dream of a perfect night out is “partying with friends in a club for wheelchair users, a working lift, a decent toilet and with a comfortable crowd who just wants to dance together – without prejudices.” Dancing until the sun comes up, then to eat somewhere to cut and roll the house – this is just a specific summer night that is clubbing for him.
But sometimes, she still feels. Why so? “Many wheelchairs are not users who do clubbing. I think due to partially limited access. But there is a lacquer of confidence. You are indispensably looking to be part of all this.” She has gathered one leg in Burgane – but separated from her, her lips have been sealed. Because she knows what happens in Burghene, Stays in Burghene.
This article was original in German.
