60°10.198′, 024°55.684′ At foot of fence pole, not wheelchair accessible
Homonationalism has been gaining ground in Europe. Parts of the lgbtiq communities have started discriminating against lgbtiq people that come from other countries. This has occurred in Helsinki too. The Hercules night club only admits people who can show a Finnish passport, driver’s license or official ID card as proof of identity; a passport of the country of origin or a temporary residence permit card is not enough. Hercules refers to the regulations of Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. The DTM night club sees the residence permit as comparable to a driver’s license, which is not an official ID but is used in many places as proof of identity.
The admittance policy in both places varies. Some people get in regardless of what kind of an ID, if any, they have to present. Ultimately it is the color of skin and the bouncer’s attitude that decide who gets in. A non-discriminating meeting place, the newly established Queers Without Borders LGBT Café, offers an alternative to the racist gay bars.