According to the former mayor-governor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, the most important phrase in his life was “I’m gay, and that’s okay!” The nation’s jaw dropped: for the first time, a high-ranking politician openly admitted his homosexuality. Revolution, fanaticism, an epoch-making turn for a conservative and then still largely dusty Germany.

For the co-chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Norbert Walter-Bordjans, the verdict of his supporter marked a hiatus, “because at that time it was still a huge challenge to put into practice the realization that there are different ways of life.”

Wowereit released the iconic commentary on June 10, 2001 at an extraordinary SPD convention in the German capital. In his speech on the nomination, the future mayor-governor of Berlin (2001-2014) wanted to clarify the situation by informing his comrades about his homosexuality. Thus, he “showed courage” and launched the process “in a positive way,” Walter-Bordjans said in an interview with DW.

End of the phrase “don’t ask, don’t tell”

The second half of the saying, “… and everything is all right,” which became popular in the country, came out by accident, as Wowerright later admitted. But the act of publicly acknowledging his homosexuality was precisely planned. And it is no coincidence that he uttered the phrase in a firm, decisive, defenseless tone.

The politician knew that the brown press intended to publish a story about his sexual orientation, which at the time would have resulted in a scandal. Therefore, he went on the offensive, depriving his opponents of all ammunition.

The majority of public opinion praised the recognition. “Do not ask Do not Tell«: There is no need to talk about sexual orientation, it is better to hide and whisper. In one fell swoop, this behavior became a thing of the past, it became much easier for politicians to assume their own homosexuality.

In an interview with a newspaper Daily mirrorWowereit, who turned his back on politics a few years ago, confirmed that in hindsight, he is also “a little proud to have changed something for others”: only in Berlin and Germany, but around the world. “

innovative initiative

With his revelation, the Social Democrat really raised the wave. In the same year, Ole von Beust of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was elected mayor of Hamburg, not hiding his homosexuality.

Then it was Guido Westerwelle’s turn: the liberal politician who died in 2016 was the first German foreign minister to be openly homosexual, and often appeared in photographs with his husband.

This option was not always easy for his position, sometimes becoming a risky game from a diplomatic point of view. Like in 2010, when Westerwelle went to Saudi Arabia, a country where homosexuals face the death penalty.

For the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) Christian Lindner, the example of his predecessor to this day remains a kind of moral duty of the legend. In response to DW’s request, he replied: “Everyone should have the opportunity to realize their life project, regardless of their sexual orientation. […] Also, sexual orientation cannot be a disadvantage to participate in politics. “

The country opens gradually

In Germany today, gays and lesbians are equated with heterosexual couples or partnerships – at least in theory, but from a legal point of view – almost completely. Until 1969, male homosexuality was generally punishable in Germany under section 175 of the Imperial Penal Code of 1872. This is why gays were generally derogatoryly referred to as “175 people.” It was only in 1994 that the paragraph was finally deleted.

In 2001, the possibility of registered partnerships was created for people of the same sex, which is practically equivalent to a “normal marriage”, except for differences in tax and family laws. The next big step was the historic endorsement by parliament of the idea of ​​”marriage for all” in 2017.

This liberalization has generated a lot of controversy, especially for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU). Nevertheless, the law came into force, which means full legal recognition by the state of same-sex partnerships.

More tolerant than accepted?

Opinion polls show that the majority of the population has long imagined that they are ruled by gays or lesbians. This does not mean that there is no homophobia in politics.

Popular Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz cited a recent example: tabloid in September 2020 picture asked him if he, the then preliminary candidate for Chancellor Angela Merkel, had any doubts about the homosexual Federal Chancellor. No, it has nothing to do with society, he said, “as long as it remains within the law and does not affect children, this is an absolute limit for me.”

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (1961-2016) (left) and husband Michael Mronz in 2009

According to some critics, Merz approached homosexuality with pedophilia. SPD Vice President Kevin Kuehnert, who is openly gay, tweeted: “These are the roundabouts of a man who cannot hide the fact that normalizing how they deal with homosexuality doesn’t really mean anything to them.”

For his part, Health Minister Jens Spahn, who is openly gay and also from the CDU, like Merz, was only surprised, but not personally offended. However, in a previous interview with the newspaper Time, he said he was still injured due to his sexual orientation.

In September, for example, a COVID-19 pandemic denier insulted him as a “disgusting fagot.” Consequently, in politics, including in Germany, homosexuality is not at all normal. “I feel sad and I want to do my part to change that,” Spahn promised.

“Poor but sexy”

Consulting DW, Managing Director of the German Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) Klaus Yetz condemned the fact that even today the orientation of politicians of both genders continues to be taken into account: “Getting out of the toilet can still be unprofitable for his career. In this respect, for politicians and politicians, he is no different from other employees. “

Social Democratic leader Walter-Bordjans also continues to testify about homophobic tirades against his colleagues: “This is bad, and I’m afraid it won’t end overnight.” His recipe is to appeal to skeptics and “persuade them to admit that we will all benefit if our society becomes freer and more tolerant in this respect.”

In fact, Klaus Wowereit was known for more than just being gay. In November 2003, he commented on his hometown, which he ruled for so many years: “Berlin is poor, but sexy” – a phrase that has become something of an unofficial motto for the German capital. Once again, the politician known as “Wowie” had the courage to say the right things, in the right way, at the right time – like June 10, 2001.