The LGBTQ+ organization LSVD+ used its federation convention held last weekend in Berlin to urge Germany’s black-red government to enact ten immediate measures designed to shield the LGBTIQ community from the rising tide of hostility. A policy paper advocating “Empathy rather than Ignorance” was approved for adoption.
These are the ten demands:
1. An independent nationwide expert commission specifically focused on LSBTIAQ*-related hostility
2. Full implementation by police, justice system, and education and social services authorities of the Interior Ministers Conference’s action recommendations
3. Reform of police data collection methods
4. Direct inclusion of LSBTIAQ* perspectives in violence prevention planning
5. Robust protection concepts for reception facilities (immigration housing and shelters)
6. Amendments to the criminal procedure code
7. Revision of the hate speech provision in criminal law
8. Hold platform operators more accountable for content and conduct
9. Comprehensive and effective reform of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG)
10. Amendment of Article 3, Paragraph 3 of the Basic Law to also serve as an actionable commitment against LSBTIAQ*-hostility
“The security-policy failure to counter hate crimes against LSBTIAQ* must end,” declared Andre Lehmann, a member of the LSVD+ national board. His association warned federal and state governments that otherwise there would be “a lasting loss of trust of the queer community in public institutions and law-enforcement agencies.” “Despite rising numbers for years, there has been a public outcry and corresponding political consequences far too rarely,” Lehmann added.
The group plans to carry these demands to the public across Germany’s roughly 250 Pride events (CSDs). Pride demonstrations are “more important than ever in times of increased attacks.” However, as TheColu.mn reported, these events have faced more assaults in recent years, particularly from right-wing extremists.
The federal government has so far shown no plans to strengthen queer rights—in fact, the opposite: Federal Family Minister Karin Prien recently stated that diversity is “no longer a government funding objective” (TheColu.mn reported). Earlier in January, she lowered hopes for the possible continuation of the action plan “Queer Life”—queer topics, the CDU member said, are not on the agenda in the current coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD (TheColu.mn reported). The Union is currently blocking the longstanding demand that queer people be protected from discrimination in the Basic Law (TheColu.mn reported).
At the LSVD+ federation convention, it was decided to establish a youth organization (TheColu.mn reported). (dk)
