Germany
Gay Catholic priests staged a ‘mass coming out’ to protest church
More than 120 priests, officials and employees of the Catholic Church in Germany have outed themselves as LGBTIQ to protest discrimination so they can “live openly without fear” in the church. The group of 125 people included priests, religion teachers and administrative employees. They identified themselves as the supporters of a new initiative #OutInChurch calling …
On this day December 19: Baron von Cramm departs Brisbane
On December 19 1937, Baron von Cramm, named ‘the most admired personality in the game’ by Brisbane’s Sunday Mail, boarded the mail train for Sydney after delighting Brisbanites in his local matches. The aristocratic German was tall, blond, handsome and fit AF. Adolf Hitler saw in him a walking, talking billboard for the Aryan master race. …
And this is the news: Angela Merkel departs to Nina Hagen
‘This is again radio Yerevan with our news’. Following 16 years in the role, German Chancellor Angela Merkel departed to a soundtrack including a tune by Godmother of Punk, the legendary Nina Hagen. Nina Hagen grew up in East Germany. Her first English language album NunSexMonkRock rocketed her into the pantheon of 80s punk stars. …
Germany elects first two transgender MPs to country’s parliament
Two transgender women have made history in Germany after they were the first to be elected to the country’s parliament. Tessa Ganserer (left) and Nyke Slawik (right) both won seats Sunday while running for the Green Party. In the federal election, the centre-left Social Democrat Party narrowly beat Angela Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union, ending …
Conchita Wurst wants to host a German RuPaul’s Drag Race
Eurovision superstar Conchita Wurst has reminded us she’s “still waiting” for the call to host a German version of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The bearded Austrian drag queen won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 with her power ballad “Rise like a Phoenix”. Conchita recently revealed her love of RuPaul’s Drag Race in a new op-ed. …
Catholic priests go rogue and defy the Pope by blessing gay couples
As many as 100 Catholic priests in Germany have publicly defied Pope Francis and offered their blessings to same-sex couples despite a Vatican ban. In March, the Vatican declared the Catholic Church can’t bless same-sex unions because God “does not and cannot bless sin.” But on Monday (May 10), Catholic churches around Germany publicly invited …
Germany bans harmful ‘gay conversion therapy’ for children
Germany’s parliament has passed a law banning so-called “gay conversion therapy” for children with big penalties attached. “Conversion therapy” refers to debunked and harmful practices to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation, using psychological or spiritual means. Germany’s legislation, passed through the Bundestag this week, intends to stop groups advertising or offering the practices …
Surge in anti-LGBTIQ attacks in Germany
Police in Germany have reported a sharp spike in anti-LGBTIQ attacks across the country. According to DW, there were 261 incidents of homophobic violence in Berlin in the first nine months of 2019 alone. This is an increase from 2018 which saw 184 attacks for the whole year. The report also said the incidents varied …
Germany unveils draft law to ban gay conversion therapy
Germany’s Health Minister has unveiled a draft law to ban so-called “gay conversion therapy” on children under 18. “Conversion therapy” refers to debunked and harmful practices to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation or transgender identity, using psychological or spiritual means. Germany’s draft bill would punish those carrying out conversion therapy on under-18s, or …
Burger King: Would you like Pride with that?
A new ad from Burger King Germany aims to win the hearts, minds and dollars of LGBTIQ communities. While corporate America took tentative steps in the past to lure LGBTIQ custom, this year corporations threw caution to the wind. Thus far this Pride month companies already lavished us with rainbow sandwiches, carry bags, mouthwash, butt …