Sophie Koch: Queer representative fights for amendment to the Basic Law!

Sophie Koch: Queer representative fights for amendment to the Basic Law!

Sachsen, Deutschland - The new queer officer of the federal government, Sophie Koch, will want to anchor the right queer in the Basic Law. The 32-year-old SPD politician, who was appointed to her office at the end of May, sees herself as a mouthpiece for the LGBTQIA+community. Her commitment is all about her own identity, since she defines itself as a bisexual/queer. This perspective considers it an important prerequisite for her work. The office, which is located in the CDU-led Ministry of Education and Family, was officially set up under the traffic light government in 2021 in order to combat discrimination and to promote legal measures for the doctorate of the rights of queer people, such as watson.de reported.

Koch's most important concern is the change in Article three of the Basic Law, which currently only addresses the equality of “women and men”. She would like to explicitly mention queer people in this article in order to legally secure her rights. In a first friendly conversation with Karin Prien, the Minister of Education and Family, Koch said that she hoped for the support of her minister. It finds the CDU largely open to the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity.

strategies and goals

In order to increase the visibility of the LGBTQIA+community, Koch plans a special strategy that takes into account the establishment of a Bill Kaulitz Foundation in East Germany. The singer of the band Tokio Hotel speaks openly about his queerness and could help promote the queer acceptance by donating. Koch does not want to act with compulsion, but rather rely on dialogue and visibility.

The current political landscape, in which the coalition agreement of the new Union-led government does not provide for specific improvements for the LGBTQIA+community, will be a challenge. In particular, the statements by Family Minister Prien, who wants to “conclude the woken stuff”, ensure uncertainty. Nevertheless, Koch remains optimistic and is determined to actively bring about changes in her work.

challenges for queer people

The situation for queer people in Germany remains tense. While draft laws such as the self -determination law, which should make it easier trans people to change their gender entrance, add Brooks, there are still massive social prejudices. The Federal Association Trans* (BVT*) and the lesbian and gay association report a general distrust of trans people. In addition, there are still many myths in public that have a nourishing effect due to the debate about the law.

These challenges have to be tackled for Sophie Koch in order to actually improve the realities of queer with her office. Numerous discussions show that it is more necessary than ever to fight for equality and acceptance to reduce prejudices and to safely position queer people in society. According to National Geographic could only promote targeted legal improvements.