Queer hostility on the rise: politics has a duty!

Queer hostility on the rise: politics has a duty!

The alarming numbers speak for themselves: anti-queer sentiment is on the rise in Germany. A worrying trend that has become increasingly important in recent years. According to André Lehmann, a member of the board of an interest group, Germany has reached a point where this hostile attitude is not only tolerated but even accepted again. This not only affects extremists, but also extends to the middle of society. On Deutschlandfunk he spoke about the polarization that often leads to violence and called for greater political support for the affected groups. How necessary this support is can also be seen in the silence of politics, which does not remain neutral when it comes to attacks on queer people, but rather makes a clear decision for one side, as Lehmann emphasizes. Deutschlandfunk reports that...

The situation is made even more worrying by the words of Gundula Ludwig, a gender researcher. She highlights that violence against queer and trans people in Germany is constantly increasing. Fresh statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office show that 1,785 crimes against LGBTQIA+ people were recorded in 2023, an increase of a good 50 percent compared to the previous year. 212 acts of violence this year alone, and the mood is being exploited by right-wing forces who are promoting a return to supposedly better times. fr.de reports that…

Growing threats

Johanna's life story is far from over; The Stonewall protests of 1969 are a central point in the history of the LGBTQIA+ movement and were largely supported by trans people and trans people of color. The importance of telling the story in diverse ways is becoming more and more urgent, as neither social discourse nor the rigidity of traditional gender roles want to soften. Ludwig points out that the narrowing of gender identity to biological truths is a fatal development that ultimately calls into question the existing social order.

Another alarming detail is the increase in hate crimes against LGBTIQ* people: in 2023, the most common crimes recorded were insults, acts of violence and threats. This makes it clear that the scenes are no longer threatened only by words, but also by physical attacks. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has therefore called for the consistent prosecution of anti-queer violence. A working group to combat homophobic and transphobic violence was also set up and has already presented a final report recommending an urgent investigation into the safety of queer people. Tagesschau reports that…

Social responsibility

In summary, the rise of queer hostility and the associated violence against the LGBTQIA+ community is not just a problem of marginalized groups. Rather, this shows a social failure that absolutely needs to be remedied. It is up to politicians and citizens to take a clear position against these developments and to actively work for a fairer society in which diversity is valued and not attacked. These are challenges that each and every one of us should take seriously, because human dignity is inviolable and applies to everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality.