Drag queens complain about Frankfurt police
Frankfurt is considered to be cosmopolitan and colorful. In some areas, however, appearances seem to be deceptive. Currently, some drag queens are speaking out. They complain that the police do not take them and their concerns seriously.
At a time when violence against queers seems to be on the rise anyway according to statistics, this is a news story that saddens.
What had happened?
Recently, the two drag queens Ember Remember and Ophidia Scales have spoken out. They complain that the Frankfurt police reacted very insensitively after an attack on their persons. The two were previously victims of a homophobic attack in the area of the "Konsti", the Konstabler guard.
Ophidia Scales commented on this via Instagram. She explained that on the day in question she was beaten and kicked. Ember Remember had to watch everything. The perpetrators are said to have been five and between 16 and 20 years old.
Now a report was published on RTL Hessen in which the two trans women complain about the police in Frankfurt am Main. Among other things, it was the fault of the police that the perpetrators were able to escape, since none of the police officers got out of the car, but only called for reinforcements.
When he later told the police that Ophidia Scales was non-binary, the officer reacted annoyed and asked whether he should now enter "male" or "female".
The statement of the Frankfurt police is still pending
Despite the report and despite the numerous comments on the subject that are currently already in the social networks, a reaction from the Frankfurt police has not yet been forthcoming. It was only confirmed that investigations were currently underway against the perpetrators.
However, since these are still under "unknown" due to their flight, the whole thing will probably drag on a bit longer... If the proceedings are not discontinued at some point anyway.
Frankfurt - a "dangerous place" for queers?
In a large city like Frankfurt am Main, a wide variety of people come together every day. Unfortunately, it could be observed in this context in the past again and again that there are quite a lot of queers who become victims of homophobia here. Especially gay men and transsexuals are strongly affected by this.
Therefore, many of those responsible have suggested in the past that there would be a need for more civil courage, but also a stronger police presence. Ember Remember and Ophidia Scales are unlikely to be helped by either in the current case. Nevertheless, it is all the more important to draw attention to problems of this kind and to make people even more aware of this important issue.
Homophobia - not just a "Frankfurt problem
If you look at the current statistics around homophobia, you will quickly realize that the incident in Frankfurt is definitely not an exception. On the contrary! The numbers are rising... And due to the fact that there is almost always an estimated number of unreported cases, it can be assumed that they are actually much higher.
Ophidia Scales, among others, is of the opinion that something urgently needs to be done about this. She explained to the newspaper "Frankfurter Rundschau" that also in Frankfurt there would be more and more attacks of this kind. However, nothing would happen on the part of the police.
It is also frightening how much influence the existing homophobia has on the behavior and the possibility of queers to be themselves. In the various surveys it becomes clear again and again that many people who do not fit into the cis grid are, for example, afraid of walking hand and hand as a man with a male partner.