A few days after the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Halle is set to host the Christopher Street Day parade. Under the motto “Solidarity can’t be voted out,” queer people and their supporters will march through the city on Saturday. In addition to the demonstration, a street festival will take place on the Market Square.
Against this backdrop, TheColu.mn spoke with Eva von Angern, a lawyer and the chair of The Left’s parliamentary group in the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, about the possible consequences of an AfD-led state government for queer people. In the interview, she explains which political options she sees if such a government took power, where legal limits lie, and how queer people and civil society could push back against potential restrictions.
Which queer-political or anti-queer demands could the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt actually implement if they led a state government?
An AfD-led state government would have several levers of power and influence in this area. For example, the AfD could wield strong influence over schools and education policy through ministerial decrees, but it could also cut funding. Queer life could be pushed out of public spaces entirely through bans.
In addition, specific state programs for queer people, health promotion, women’s associations and women’s shelters, as well as educational offerings on LGBTQI topics, could be scrapped.
Where would an AfD-led state government be legally constrained, for example by the Basic Law, federal law, or the state constitution?
The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) forms the basis for every state action in Germany. Article 1 of the Basic Law states that the dignity of every person is inviolable. Respecting and protecting it is the obligation of all state power.
The state constitution says that no one may be disadvantaged or favored on grounds of gender, sexual identity, descent, language, homeland and origin, faith or religious or political beliefs, or on racist grounds.
These rights cannot be overturned by an AfD-led state government, but they will try. Then society must stand together, raise public awareness, and ultimately the courts must decisively determine that rights must be upheld and not neglected.
In which areas could a state government, even without new laws, influence the lives of queer people—for example in education, administration, or the funding of counseling centers and projects?
An AfD state government could substantially worsen the lives of queer people in Saxony-Anhalt in many areas without changing a single law. Through ministerial decrees, it could immediately issue directives to daycares, schools, or police authorities that would take effect right away. Don’t fool yourself: from day one of taking office, the AfD would act and would work to make life harder for marginalized people in this society.
What concrete everyday consequences could such political changes have for queer people in Saxony-Anhalt?
The hatred and incitement the AfD spreads in the state parliament will also reflect on squares and streets. The AfD and its dehumanizing positions will gradually become normalized if we do not confront them firmly.
A government led by the AfD could immediately push sentiment further in the wrong direction. Then there will be less protection for queer people, and there will be hardly any state-funded counseling services after incidents of discrimination or violence.
CSDs could become a thing of the past, and queer life could be pushed out of the urban landscape. The BSW has made clear what kind of ideological leaning they share and how they already align with the AfD’s plans. Because the BSW calls for more support for the traditional family image of father, mother, child, and no support for queer life. The AfD’s attacks would severely limit the diversity and openness of people in the state.
As an anti-fascist bulwark, Die Linke will not yield an inch when it comes to protecting and defending the queer community and all those who strive for a cosmopolitan society.
What legal and political options would affected individuals, associations, and civil society have to resist measures that restrict queer rights?
First and foremost, we must continue to ensure that queer people and their positions are visible. They are a fixed part of our society, and an election result must not change that. We need to build and strengthen networks to protect those who are targeted by the AfD.
We need campaigns and strong public outreach to report on potential funding cuts or attacks and to prevent them. The Left wants to provide safe spaces to fend off attacks and to channel frustration toward the AfD. Ultimately, in the face of unlawful measures by an AfD government, legal avenues must be pursued.
