Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States

Meeting with Nyke Slawik, MdB

On the first day of our program, we had the opportunity to meet with Nyke Slawik and her team. Nyke Slawik made history in 2021 as one of the first trans individuals elected to the German Parliament. She represents parts of Cologne and Leverkusen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is a member of the Green Party.

Our discussion covered LGBTQ+ rights in Germany and the United States, recent legislative changes, and what it's like to be one of the first openly transgender politicians in Germany. We also talked about positive developments like the recently passed Self-Determination Law (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz) and Nyke's work on promoting green transportation in response to climate change. Mental health, especially in the context of politics, was another important topic.

The conversation was insightful for all of us, and we greatly appreciated MdB Slawik taking time out of her busy schedule to meet with AGI.

Our visit to rubicon e.V.

Also on our first day of the Cologne project trip we visited rubicon e.V., which is an NGO that offers advice, health promotion, and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter*, and queer people and groups. A team of almost 30 employees with expertise in different areas is a reliable place for anti-discrimination work in North Rhine-Westphalia. They offer counseling in person, via phone calls, and online. Apart from services provided for queer folks, they also offer advice for family members and trainings for professionals. Their networks are committed to senior citizens, “rainbow families,” and people with an immigrant background.

During our exchange with rubicon e.V., we covered the everyday work of the team members, the at-times- difficult nature of their work, their biggest achievements so far, as well as challenges that lie ahead for the organization and its employees.

That evening, U.S. Consul General Pauline Kao, whose diplomatic duties in Düsseldorf cover the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, including Cologne, joined the project group for a discussion on a variety of topics relevant to transatlantic relations.

Ms. Kao, who has held the post since 2021, recounted her long personal relationship with Germany, beginning with her studies in Tübingen and Berlin and her early law career in the German capital. She offered our group an optimistic assessment of the future of U.S.-German relations in spite of the political uncertainty in each country. She also highlighted the deep economic ties between the two countries. The group appreciated Ms. Kao's personal reflection on how her stint as a whitewater rafting guide prepared her for a career in diplomacy and law.

Meeting with Martin Sölle, Centrum Schwule Geschichte e.V.

On the third day of project, we visited the Centrum Schwule Geschichte e.V. (Center for Gay History) and had a conversation with board member and co-founder Martin Sölle. The center emerged 40 years ago from a gay history working group that published research on the history of homosexuality in Cologne and the Rhineland as well as the Rheinisches Schwulenarchiv (Gay Archive of Rhineland), which collected books, magazines, videos, and objects related to gay life in and around Cologne. The Centrum was founded to inform on queer topics that were not represented in academia at the time and also to counter the seeming disappearance of older gay men within the community. 

Initially, the Centrum focused on collecting materials related to the history of gay men and was entirely separate from lesbian history or the history of FLINTA (acronym used to describe women, lesbians, intersex people, non-binary, trans, and agender folks) in the queer community. Over the years, they have expanded their resources and plan to further broaden their scope to include an archive on the history of transgender people. The Centrum's work encompasses exhibitions, guided tours for groups, archival management, publications, and research. Although there are several historians working at the Centrum, compensation is only feasible for one person, making the center highly reliant on volunteers.

This meeting served as a reminder of how important these spaces are for the queer community and the preservation of LGBTQ+ history. Archives play a crucial role in shaping society's understanding of history, as they determine which resources are available and accessible. The stories preserved in archives become the narratives we know. Access to resources on queer history, life, and people helps us to contextualize our own experiences of oppression and resistance within socio-historical contexts. Thus, the significance of collecting and preserving queer experiences cannot be overstated.

However, this responsibility often falls to queer individuals, as our stories are frequently excluded from or receive limited attention in official documentation. Seeing how members of our community have ensured and continue to ensure that we are remembered was empowering. Yet, there is also a sense of frustration in knowing that without the efforts of people like Martin Sölle and the Centrum Schwule Geschichte e.V., many of the resources on LGBTQ+ history we have access to today might not even exist.

Queer Pastoral Care of the German Bishops Conference with Kim Degner & Andreas Heek

We met with Andreas Heek (he/him, Queer Pastoral Care Director) and Kim Degner (they/them, LGBTQ+ Assistant) for an engaging discussion about their ongoing queer pastoral care work conducted through the Church Office for Men’s Pastoral Care and Men’s Work in the German Dioceses (AfM). This office exists as a pastoral institution of the German Bishops’ Conference—the official assembly of bishops representing the Catholic dioceses of Germany. We learned that of the 27 dioceses, 20 currently have a professional dedicated to overseeing queer pastoral care and leading the development of educational, outreach, and networking programs. Our discussion included an overview of some of the pastoral care services provided by the office—like queer liturgical readings, the establishment of standardized queer-specific pastoral guidelines, and the housing of a significant number of charitable social service institutions within the German Catholic Church.

While there are often tensions between the LGBTQ+ community’s movement for equity and social justice and the teachings and harmful language/actions of some specific denominations, faith traditions, and individual organized religious institutions, this conversation was illuminating and refreshing. It was also important to consider in a local context. Cologne is situated against the very backdrop of the gorgeous, awe-inspiring Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage site and the seat of the Archdiocese of Cologne. The cathedral’s importance to the cultural fabric of the city cannot be overstated, only reinforcing the important connections that the Church and spirituality still have within the social life of the city and its communities.

On day four of our program, we met wtih Klaus Jetz of the Lesben- und Schwulenverband (LSVD, Lesbian and Gay Association). LSVD is a civil rights association that represents the interests and concerns of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and intersex people (LSBTI). The LSVD advocates for human rights, diversity, and respect for LGBTI people to be accepted and recognized as a part of social normality.

Since 1990, the LSVD has been fighting against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Their work has been involved in the opening of marriage for same-sex couples, the General Equal Treatment Act, the final deletion of Section 175 of the Criminal Code (StGB), the rehabilitation of men convicted under Section 175 of the Criminal Code, improvements for transgender people, and the construction of the monument for homosexuals persecuted under National Socialism.

Another highlight was our meeting and discussion with Andreas Wolter, openly gay First Vice Mayor of Cologne and member of the Alliance 90/The Greens.

While Mayor Wolter is of course engaged in all kinds of topics a mayor faces on a daily basis, there was one story that did touch us specifically. Mayor Wolter does a lot of work and interaction with the various partner cities of Cologne, one of them being Katowice, a city in Poland.

In 2019, he received a death threat via email because he wanted to take part in the Christopher Street Day (an LGBTQ+ celebration similar to Pride) in the Polish twin city of Katowice, and which he took part in anyhow. Mayor Wolter showed great courage by defying a direct threat that he would “pay with his life” for his participation.

Hedid the only right thing—he filed a complaint, which led to the conviction of the offender. He argued that the verdict was also an important signal for the liberal forces in Poland.

Mayor Wolter's example demonstrates why it is so important to take a clear stance against homophobia and hate, not only at the local level, but also at the international level. Whether it is a partner city or any other situation, we cannot tolerate any hatred.

Looking at data—whether in the United States or in Germany—insults, threats, and attacks are not isolated cases. The sad truth is that queer people continue to be exposed to danger and attacks today. Members of the community repeatedly report discrimination or derogatory comments in everyday life. One of the many reasons why Christopher Street Days are still necessary today is that, in addition to legal equality, the road to social equality remains full of obstacles.

Anyway e.V.

We wrapped up day four with a meeting at  Anyway , an organization that supports the young LGBTQ+ community in Cologne.

Rabea, Sam-Lias, and Dominik's presentation shed light on Anyway's impactful presence in the community, adding valuable insights to our project. Anyway supports young people aged 14-27, offering a safer space for community connection through diverse programs, events, and a welcoming café.

Guests can engage in specific programming or simply be themselves in a welcoming environment.

Anyway offers vital support to LGBTQ+ individuals with educational workshops, mental health services, and aid for those navigating housing and resource hurdles, often stemming from familial rejection.

As we left Anyway, there was a shared sense of gratitude. The warm welcome and sense of belonging left a lasting impression, reminding us of the importance of spaces where LGBTQ+ folks can be their authentic selves without fear.

We were thankful for the opportunity to experience such a supportive environment firsthand!

EL-DE Haus NS Dokumentationszentrum

The Cologne Gestapo headquarters were located in the EL-DE House from December 1935 until March 1945. The Nazis used the basement of the house as an interrogation prison, and the courtyard behind the house was the site where the Nazis executed over 400 "inmates" between 1944-1945. The upper floors of the building now showcase archival materials and exhibits on Cologne during the Nazi era, while the basement level—the location of the Gestapo prison cells and execution yard—has been preserved and memorialized.

On the basement walls of the EL-DE House are the writings of people that the Nazis held under detention and torture. Walking through the rooms of the structure, visitors can read the progression of people's writings from the time of their arrest through their execution or the arrival of the Allies.

The attached photos show the preserved prison cells, prisoners' personal writings, and the courtyard that the Nazis used to execute prisoners at the EL-DE House in Cologne.

AIDS Stiftung (AIDS Foundation) with Dr. Ulrich Heide

The foundation helps HIV-positive people and people with AIDS in material hardship. In addition, it supports the project work of local AIDS aid organizations. The foundation has also supported selected international projects since 2000. At the same time, it constantly strives to bring the topic of HIV/AIDS to the public, to inform and educate, and to help those affected gain greater acceptance in society.

We met with Dr. Ulrich Heide, who was the president of the foundation for 31 years. He started working in his position as president one month after the founding of Deutsche AIDS Stiftung in 1987.

At the start of the foundation, the main target groups for their campaigns were gay men and drug users. Back then, Germany was at the forefront of campaigns regarding this topic. Together with the AIDS Hilfe e.V. they started the first campaign called "Use condoms."

According to Dr. Heide, one particular group of people has always been there to show their support for the community in many different ways: artists. Until today, the work with people who work in the entertainment industry or people who are of public interest is very important for the foundation. It brings their topics and concerns to the public and helps to reach a much wider audience. Some of the artists sell their work at auctions and donate the money in support of the AIDS Foundation.

One of their biggest events to spread awareness and fight the stigma of HIV and AIDS was the Opern Gala (opera gala), which had its beginnings in 1994. Formerly hosted by the famous German humorist Loriot, the gala was taken over by singer and leader of the Palast Orchester, Max Raabe, in 2007.

The AIDS Stiftung continues to work closely with the AIDS Hilfe e.V., which is also doing a lot of work in terms of fighting the stigma of AIDS and HIV.

Walking tour with Martin Sölle

On the last day of our program we met again with Martin Sölle. Apart from being co-founder of the Centrum Schwule Geschichte e.V., he also owns a bookstore in Köln-Ehrenfeld and is involved with the El-DE-Haus in Cologne. This is exactly where our walking tour started. We walked passed landmarks such as the Deserteurdenkmal, a memorial that commemorates the many thousands of deserters and opponents of the war during the Nazi regime.