Many people have high hopes for the newly elected traffic light coalition. Among others, there are also numerous members of the community who now hope that a somewhat more liberal wind will blow in some areas.
All the more frightening is a statement that FDP politician Gerhard Papke recently posted on social networks. But who is Gerhard Papke actually? And what office does he hold in the FDP?
Gerhard Papke and his position in the FDP
In 2019, Papke became the head of the German-Hungarian Society of the Federal Republic of Germany. The aim of the association is to foster German-Hungarian relations on many levels. No matter if it is about economic or cultural areas: The aim is to let both countries grow together a little bit more again and to find common ground on which the common future can be built in a harmonious way.
Whoever thinks of Hungary, among other things, of restrictions on the LGBTQI+ community, might hope in the first step that Germany could have a positive influence on more tolerance and equality in the country. It is therefore all the more surprising that Gerhard Papke has now spoken positively about the anti-queer measures in Hungary and has also cited them as an example of how to deal with the community in Germany.
Hungarian Constitution as a Template for Germany?
The outrage over Papke's statement was particularly widespread among transsexual people. After all, their rights are at stake in this specific case.
So Gerhard Papke apparently thinks that the rejection of transsexual persons in the constitution is not the worst idea. He justifies the whole thing with the protection of children and their gender identity preserved at birth. About his post he elaborates Hungary as a role model.
"A year ago, #Hungary wrote in its constitution: 'Hungary protects the right of children to their gender identity received at birth'. I believe that the majority of Germans would also like to read something like that in our Basic Law!". The last sentence can only be posted as a subjective assumption, but in his words it already sounds to many almost like a statement. Papke also underlines his post with the Hungarian flag.
Hungary in 2020 - what happened?
In his post, Papke refers to a specific political decision. More precisely, Hungary had decided in December 2020 to accept from now on only the birth sex and not to recognize transsexual people. Before that, the government had still legislated that homosexual couples could neither marry nor adopt children.
Thus, Hungary opposed large parts of Europe, which was liberal in many regions. The decisions were criticized not only in Germany but by many other EU countries. Conservative politicians in Hungary, however, have not been dissuaded from their position to this day... And - as Papke proves - have apparently also found some people in more liberal countries who share their opinion.
Papke expresses hostility to LGBTQI+ not for the first time
Gerhard Papke has also in the past expressed himself negatively towards the demand for more rights for transsexuals. Recently, many people were still outraged that he called the right of self-determination "insanity". In this context, it is particularly striking that Papke's intolerance is apparently not directed against the entire community, but primarily against transsexuals.
Did you know that Zürich Pride focuses on transsexual people?