North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) is set to award the state’s Order of Merit on Tuesday, June 2, to a total of 15 individuals who have dedicated themselves to fostering an open, diverse, and respectful coexistence in NRW, thereby also strengthening equality for queer people.
Thus Hans W. Geißendörfer, producer of the former ARD series “Lindenstraße,” will receive the prize. In addition to the 85-year-old Geißendörfer, the openly gay “Lindenstraße” actors Georg Uecker (63) and Claus Vinçon (69) will also be honored, the state chancellery in Düsseldorf announced.
“Lindenstraße” Tackled Homosexuality and AIDS
The Lindenstraße, created by Geißendörfer, had early on tackled topics such as AIDS and same-sex relationships on German television, according to the justification. The 85-year-old also promotes film talent and works to preserve Germany’s film heritage.
Uecker played the role of Carsten Flöter in Lindenstraße, which was set in Munich but produced in Cologne. His kissing scene with Robert Engel (Martin Armknecht) in 1990 caused a scandal and went down in TV history as the first controversial kiss between two men in a German series. “That the first kiss between a same-sex couple was shown in Lindenstraße was a sign of social openness and an important signal for many people who had not felt represented until then,” the state chancellery said. However: as early as 1987 there had been a same-sex kiss in Lindenstraße between Uecker and actor Günter Barton (as Gert Weinbauer), which was less intense and drew little reaction at the time.
Uecker, like his acting colleague Vinçon, has for many years publicly supported the queer community and has been especially involved in HIV and AIDS prevention, the state chancellery explained.
Awards to Twelve Activists
In addition, twelve more people will be honored for their work for the queer community or against HIV/AIDS. Among them is Volker Beck (Greens), the “father of marriage equality.” Also to be recognized are moderator Ralph Morgenstern, the lesbian singer-songwriter Carolina Brauckmann, moderator and author Ricarda Hofmann, Peter Hölscher (LSBTIQ* inclusive project), Heike Kivelitz (Leslie e.V.), Reinhard Klenke (co-founder of Aidshilfe Paderborn), Jochen Saurenbach (Aidshilfe Köln), Reinhard Schmidt (LSBTIQ*-Forum Düsseldorf), Steffen Schwab (Queeres Netzwerk NRW), as well as pharmacist Erik Tenberken and Marcus Velke-Schmidt (Centrum Schwule Geschichte e.V.).
The Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia is the state’s highest distinction. It is awarded by the Prime Minister to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary voluntary service or outstanding achievements that advance the land of NRW and its people.
