The Local Germany

Cemetery creates first lesbian-only burial area

Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:27:00 +0200

Germany's first burial area for lesbians will open on Sunday in Berlin. One of the founders told The Local that the leafy resting spot is for homosexual women to be buried as they lived – with those of the same sex.

'What happens when anything goes?'

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:44:00 +0100

Should schools promote more tolerance in questions of love? Such plans being drawn up have fired a heated debate. The Tagesspiegel's Malte Lehming argues acceptance of sexual diversity can be problematic.

Germany's first lesbian minister comes out

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 16:21:00 +0100

Germany's new Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks quietly came out this week in a newspaper interview. She is the country's first openly lesbian cabinet member.

Celebs lead gay rights fight with kisses

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:00:00 +0100

The German version of men's magazine GQ launched an eye catching campaign against homophobia this month. An upcoming edition features a photo essay of straight, male, German celebs kissing.

Berlin drag queen sews mouth in Russia protest

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:36:00 +0200

A shocking video is currently making the virtual rounds. In it, a man dressed as a beautiful woman sews up her mouth in protest at the persecution of homosexuals in Russia. Berlin drag queen Barbie Breakout is our German of the week.

DFB tells gay players: come out, but quietly

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:30:00 +0200

Will footie fans ever welcome openly gay players on the pitch? A leaflet from the German Football Association (DFB) tells closeted German football players to come out at the end of the season - so people forget all about it.

Gay pride parade draws more than a million

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:13:00 +0200

More than a million people took to the streets in the west German city Cologne on Sunday for the Christopher Street Day gay pride parade. The celebrations went without a hitch as onlookers revelled in the sunny weather.

Medics: gays should be allowed to give blood

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:46:00 +0200

German doctors are calling for gay men to be allowed to donate blood. Currently a Europe-wide ban prevents them from doing so, but the German Health Minister said he would welcome a relaxation of the rules.

Election year pride parade gets political

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 18:47:00 +0200

About half a million people crowded into Berlin on Saturday to take part in the 35th annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) gay pride parade. Just months ahead of a general election, the event proved unusually political.

Germany slams Russian gay adoption ban

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 11:41:00 +0200

Germany on Friday said it was concerned by Russian anti-gay legislation, after lawmakers approved a bill to restrict the adoption of Russian children in over a dozen countries that allow same-sex marriages.

Tax equality for gay German couples

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:16:00 +0200

Germany's top court ruled on Thursday that same-sex partners have a right to the same generous tax benefits as married couples, in another landmark step for gay rights in Europe.

Survey: Half of gays harassed in Germany

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:26:00 +0200

Nearly 50 percent of German lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents reported being harassed and/or discriminated against last year, a study on the European Union’s LGBT community released on Friday and published in the Süddeutsche Zeitung showed.

Court: gay and straight tax breaks must match

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:02:00 +0200

Gay couples in civil partnerships must have the same tax breaks as married heterosexuals, Germany's top court says, telling the government that if action is not taken, it would intervene directly.

Pride parade shuns CDU over gay marriage

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:47:00 +0200

Organizers of Berlin's Christopher Street Day will not give Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) their normal float at this year's gay pride parade in protest against the party's opposition to same-sex marriage.

Germany's first gay rugby team scrums down

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:17:00 +0100

They may have suffered a heavy defeat on their debut, but the Berlin Bruisers trudged off the pitch buoyant and proud after Germany's only gay rugby team played their first competitive match on Saturday.

Facebook 'censors' radio host's pope criticism

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:22:00 +0100

An outspoken German TV presenter said he was "speechless" with fury after he claimed Facebook censored his status updates criticising the social values of the Catholic church and Pope Francis himself.

Conservatives reverse on gay marriage equality

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:45:00 +0100

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party is ready to give up its resistance to giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual ones, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Saturday.

Amazon, gay adoption, Eurovision, and GEMA

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:05:00 +0100

In this week's Weekly News Podcast, Ben Knight delves into bullying at Amazon, gay adoption rights, Eurovision's techno-pop plagiarism scandal, and how killjoys at GEMA are keeping the elderly from dancing.

High court strengthens gay adoption rights

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:03:00 +0100

Germany took another step towards equal rights for gay couples on Tuesday, after the country's highest court ruled those in a civil partnership have the right to adopt their partner's adopted children.

HIV man loses restaurant loan 'for own protection'

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:28:00 +0100

Bavarian police are investigating a case in which an HIV positive man who wanted to open a restaurant was refused a bank loan “for his own protection” before receiving death threats from neighbours, it was reported on Friday.