XFEL: Celebration of Pride Week 2025 at European XFEL

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Celebration of Pride Week 2025 at European XFEL

In addition to raising the LGBTQI+ flag, several European XFEL staff members have offered to share their stories about being LGBTQI+ in STEM, because they believe that being visible as LGBTQI+ in STEM is important to break down prejudices, raise awareness, and contribute to a more inclusive working environment. The European XFEL Management Board, Diversity Officer and Equal Opportunities Spokespersons do too, and hope you will take time to read their stories.

Could you please briefly describe what characterizes you most?

• Ulf: I am an experimental physicist and a classical singer, and I am gay.
• Philipp: I am a physicist in the data analysis group, and I am gay.
• Antonio: I am an innovation manager, have a passion for hiking, and I am gay.
• Frederico: I am an Instrument Scientist at FXE, and I identify myself as gay. 

What is your field of work at the European XFEL?

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  Ulf
  Ulf: I have been head of the High Energy Density group at the European XFEL for ten years. I feel privileged to work with a team of over 30 diverse scientists, engineers, technicians and PhD students from all over the world, providing some of the brightest X-ray sources for international research groups to use in their experiments. We may well be the largest research group in Europe working on this topic.
• Philipp: I completed my PhD in physics at the University of Kassel on VUV and X-
  ray spectroscopy with synchrotron and FEL radiation, before coming to European XFEL in 2019 as a guest scientist at SQS. Always on the edge between physics and 
  

  Philipp
  data science, I decided to focus completely on the analysis aspect of my work and joined the data analysis group beginning of 2020. Here, I develop our facility-wide data analysis solutions and support the instruments and their users to cope with their data and get the best possible data quality out of it.
• Antonio: I work at the intersection of the fields of administration and technology, and am surrounded by a lot of cultural diversity in my work, not only in terms of internationality, but also in terms of academic background or industrial experience. I’m used to being in diverse environments, which is great for innovation – my field of interest. The variety of what makes us human – traditions, religions, interests, knowledge and approach to work – bring different perspectives to the table. In this variety, I am gay – that is just another part of who I am.
• Frederico: I have completed my PhD in physics at EPFL in Switzerland in late 2011 studying ultrafast processes on bio-chemical systems using X-ray spectroscopy. After that, I have done a postdoctoral period at the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, also researching proteins and biologically-relevant systems using X-ray spectroscopy. Following, I have spent a period as a beamline scientist and coordinator at the Brazilian Synchrotron. Here at European XFEL I am one of the responsible for the daily operation of the FXE instrument and support to external user groups, mainly focusing on the high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy initiatives. Currently, I’m also an Operations Leader for Hard X-Ray Spectroscopy and Spectrometers, leading developments of novel instrumentation and methodologies.

How has being gay influenced your personality?

• Ulf: I have always been open and honest about being gay, but it's just one part of my personality. Fortunately, I grew up with accepting and loving parents, grandparents and family, and I have always worked in tolerant environments at school, university and here at European XFEL. I have also been happily married to my husband for several years. Therefore, I have never felt the need to fight for my rights or hide this aspect of my personality. I have been allowed to just be myself, with all my crazy hobbies and interests (some people probably think that being a physicist is as weird as being gay...). However, not everyone has a tolerant and liberal upbringing. Sometimes people who have known me for a while and didn't know I was gay are surprised to realize that we're just "normal" people, too. Getting to know me has made them reconsider their sometimes-intolerant attitudes and prejudices against gay people in general.
• Philipp: On the surface it seems like so many things have changed in the last few decades, and living in a tolerant and diverse environment I barely think of being part of a minority. But often, it is also just easier for me to blend in, and there remains lots of work to do for many others in the LGBTQI+ community. Being gay raised my awareness that we are all different and that’s okay. There is no expectation for how you lead your life for yourself, and you don’t need conformity to approve that.
  

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  Antonio
• Antonio: I have been lucky, and have never experienced any harassment for who I am. In my job, in my family, in the circle of my friends, not only I was accepted but I was free to share my personal life. This is the best way to live – homosexuality is only one aspect of my personality.
  

  Frederico
• Frederico: My main scientific interests involve the investigation of the electronic and structural properties of electronic labile compounds, models of catalytic systems, bio-inspired molecular systems, compounds acting as drug mimetics and their ultrafast temporal evolution; always employing a combination of X-ray techniques and quantum chemical calculations. On a personal side, I am passionate about exploring local markets around the world and trying new flavours, enjoying nature and doing outdoors activities and discussing politics. I love cooking (and eating, of course!), taking care of my house plants, and I am also a great appreciator of jazz and abstract art.

Why do you think it is so important to raise awareness?

• Ulf: Living in a relatively tolerant and diverse environment, I sometimes even forget that I am part of a minority. It's a wonderful feeling, but I know this is not everyone’s experience. That's why I believe it's important to be visible, raise awareness and break down stereotypes and prejudices. It lets others who cannot be so open about their identity know that they are not alone.
• Philipp: I am really happy European XFEL tries to be an active part in this, and inspire diversity in STEM research. Role models are critical to bring down barriers for the next generation, not only for LGBTQI+ but all the other expectations like gender preventing young people from going for their dreams. Science must be at the forefront of embracing new ideas, and there are plenty of new ideas hidden in the differences between us.
• Antonio: There is always the risk of homophobic behaviours, even in seemingly tolerant and liberal environments. Even here in the Hamburg area, it happens that gay people can be harassed or beaten up by rogue groups. Prejudice can simmer under the surface in work environments where there is even clear support and understanding from the management level, before maybe eventually revealing itself in a surprising and damaging way. The media – perhaps without intent, just ignorance – sometimes misrepresents homosexuality as being some nefarious agenda, or they label crimes as being “gay”, like for instance homicide or corrupted lobbies, as if homosexuality is the source of illegal or immoral behaviour. That can inflame prejudices and provoke attacks on the gay community. Therefore, it is important that we show others that we share the same emotions and daily lives as them.
• Frederico: Being part of the LGBTQI+ community is just another side (out of many!) of my personality and life. I believe this should be made visible to all, not only to promote equality and awareness in STEM community and in our society in general, but also to support those that feel unsure or insecure to openly live this aspect of their identities.