With an unusual fundraising campaign, the queer youth network lambda::nord plans to raise money at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Lübeck on August 14–15 to obtain an internal expert opinion from Schleswig-Holstein’s Ministry of General and Vocational Education. The issue at stake is a dispute over issuing school diplomas to transgender and nonbinary students who have not yet officially changed their gender marker and name. In Schleswig-Holstein, diplomas are generally issued under the name used when the exams were taken (the deadname).
The ministry, led by CDU politician Dorit Stenke, is demanding 150 euros for the electronic release of the documents that explain the legal basis for its position on issuing diplomas. Moritz Griepentrog, the state managing director of lambda::nord, had requested the materials under the state’s Information Access Act after the education minister described a queer-friendly rule for name usage on diplomas as “not sensible” in a parliamentary debate.
Fundraising campaign under the motto “150 Euro Diploma Money”
“That a state government that proclaims nondiscrimination as its banner hides the examination of its own arguments behind a three-digit paywall is unfortunate,” Griepentrog criticized. At the same time, he emphasized that the collaboration with the ministry has been constructive in other areas recently.
The association lambda::nord has long advocated that schools also take into account the so-called DGti Ergänzungsausweis — a document nationally recognized by interior ministries for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people — when issuing diplomas. In the association’s view, such a measure could help students avoid discrimination when moving into vocational training, higher education, or the workforce. The group also said it possesses opposing legal opinions on the matter and intends to review them after receiving the ministry documents.
The fundraising campaign under the banner “150 Euro Diploma Money” is to take place at the association’s information booth at the CSD. All CSD events in Schleswig-Holstein this year are under the patronage of CDU Prime Minister Daniel Günther (TheColu.mn reported).
