I initially made a similar post but then deleted, since I found this more detailed article on the same website.
On Sunday afternoon, police raided the Casa Kuá health center on Naunynstrasse in Kreuzberg on suspicion of illegal drug trafficking. Casa Kuá is a health center and community space for queer people, established in 2020.
At the time of the raid, the "Dolls" group was holding a meeting there, a gathering specifically for trans women. The "Dolls" aim to be a safe space, free from fear of (transmisogynistic) violence, offering opportunities to swap clothes, participate in workshops, and share meals. The "Dolls" are a refuge, especially for poor and non-white trans women.
Kim* was there for the first time on Sunday. She described her experience to taz: "Suddenly, police officers entered the building, and the relaxed atmosphere instantly turned tense." Thirteen trans women were present at Casa Kuá at the time.
The police had forbidden them from using their cell phones. Their hands had to be visible to the officers at all times. Even going to the toilet was strictly controlled, Kim continued. The police had a search warrant for the center. They were looking for two substances. According to Kim, those present were surprised because they didn't recognize these substances, as they are not used in standard hormone replacement therapy.
Alleged Doping Agents
Hormone replacement therapy is a fundamental component for many transgender people and has been internationally recognized and practiced for decades. It is one of the few ways to alleviate gender dysphoria, the distress a person experiences when their perceived gender identity does not match the sex assigned to them at birth. Hormones such as estrogen or progesterone are used.
However, the public prosecutor's office told taz that "suspected doping substances" had been seized. They did not specify the exact names of these substances. Estrogen and progesterone have the opposite effect, as they do not raise testosterone levels.
In addition, police seized a four-figure sum of cash. According to the women present, this money was used to pay for workshops or a laser hair removal machine and had nothing to do with illegal hormone trafficking.
Personal details seized
Kim described how police officers used bolt cutters to open the door to a back room. The personal details of everyone present were then recorded. According to the police report, data storage devices were also confiscated.
During the raid, police informed the women that they were investigating whether anyone had a criminal record. The operation has sparked outrage in the community. Thea Etcetera, a trans female artist, described it on Instagram as "one of the worst attacks on trans rights in the recent history of this country."
For decades, advocacy groups have criticized the treatment of trans people as being insufficiently accessible and degrading. Obstacles, especially for medical gender reassignment surgery, remained even after the introduction of the Self-Determination Act in 2024. Furthermore, poor, non-white, or refugee trans women in Germany often lack health insurance or experience discrimination within the healthcare system.
Before the women were allowed to leave the building after several hours, each one had to undergo a bag search. Kim says, "One woman had her estrogen tablets with her. The police immediately became suspicious and started harassing her." They insisted on seeing a prescription—a prescription that would remain at the pharmacy when the medication was picked up.
Around 140 people gathered outside the building during the operation to express their solidarity. Their demand: an immediate end to the police action. One participant reported that everyone found it incomprehensible why the "dolls" were being targeted in a raid. She sees the alleged possession and distribution of hormones as a pretext for violent action against trans women. “In the end, there were about ten police cars there. This is completely disproportionate. Neither the number of people present nor the quantity of allegedly illegal hormone pills justifies this threatening deployment,” said the eyewitness.
When the police announced an even larger deployment in response to the spontaneous gathering, supporters called for an impromptu demonstration at Rio Reiser Square. Among them was Stella*, who regularly attends meetings of the “Dolls.” “Eating or talking with the Dolls means a lot to me!” Stella told taz. For her, it’s clear: “This was a targeted attack on the trans community in Berlin.”