man*check becomes sidekicks.berlin

From now on, we will be your sidekicks, accompanying you through your everyday life and adventures in Berlin.
We stand by your side and are there when you need us. We support you in living your sex, love and party life in a way that suits you. To achieve this, we provide you with information and support on all aspects of sexual health and substance use. You decide what you need and what helps you make informed decisions.

You’re the main character, and we’re your sidekicks!

What started in 2003 as a prevention project for HIV and Aids for „gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM)“ has evolved into so much more today. MSM are still the most affected group by HIV in Germany today. However, 20 years after launching man*check, there has been significant progress: There are more ways to protect yourself from HIV-infection, at the same time there is a therapy that is well tolerated and successful for most people. Therefore, HIV is not what it used to be 20 years ago, at least in the global north.

However, equal access to prevention and treatment for all, as well as the stigma surrounding HIV, lifestyles, and gender diversity, remain challenging issues. On a personal level, the challenge lies in integrating knowledge of risks and protection strategies into one’s own actions. Additionally, other topics have also gained importance, such as STIs, hepatitides and managing risks associated with substance use and chemsex, which are becoming pivotal aspects of health promotion.

Berlin life is as diverse and dynamic as the self-identification of the people who live it. Consequently, Berlin’s club, party, and event landscape has also become increasingly heterogeneous. Work focused exclusively on MSM often no longer accurately reflects the reality we encounter on site.
Our goal is to reach as many queer people as possible, explicitly addressing gender and sexual diversity. We want to support people in finding a balance between self-fulfilment and maintaining their health, tailored to their needs. We stand against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and interphobia, as well as against sexism, racism and stigmatization, while considering intersectional experiences of discrimination.

Over time, our work has increasingly developed into a variety of offerings, which we provide on-site with our diverse team of full-time and volunteer staff. Therefore, the name man*check no longer fully represents everything we do and the scope of our target groups. We used our motivation and energy to develop ourselves and our areas of interest further.

We are excited to introduce ourselves as sidekicks.berlin.

„In literature and the performing arts, as well as in film, the term sidekick refers to a specific type of supporting role, usually the accompaniment of the main character.“

Berlin July 2023