Many people in the LGBTQ community are likely to find it a bitter setback: The candidate for the Bundestag, Tessa Ganserer, is referred to by her deadname on the ballot. The first name "Tessa" is merely in parentheses. She is the first openly transsexual member of the state parliament ever.
The decision to list Ganserer's "old first name" first was recently made by the Bavarian State Election Committee.
The decision was justified by the fact that the procedure was a kind of compromise. After all, both names were listed. The fact that the whole thing is not possible in a less complicated way has to do with a law that Ganserer has been fighting against for some time.
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"I am mocked, insulted and sometimes threatened. I have endured many humiliating moments, but I will not let them take away my human dignity." the politician recently stated on social networks.
The fact that the said deadname appeared on the ballot finally broke the camel's back for her. She feels that this action is yet another humiliation. Therefore, she has decided to go on the defensive and, together with her lawyer, apply for a change of personal status and first name according to the TSG. However, no forced psychological assessment is to take place in this context. According to Ganserer, such a procedure violates her "constitutionally protected personal rights". Her demand: she wants to be recognized by the state as a woman and to be treated as such. In conclusion, she writes: "If necessary, I will go all the way to the Federal Constitutional Court for this."
Ganserer definitely seems to be about more than "just" a name here, but rather a statement for the entire community.
But who is Ms. Ganserer?
Tessa Ganserer has been politically active for some time. She has been sitting in the Munich state parliament for about eight years. She is the first politician to openly admit her transsexuality and is considered a role model by many in the scene - among other things because of her fighting spirit, which she is currently demonstrating once again.
So far, her outing has obviously not put any "career stumbling blocks" in Ganserer's way. On the contrary! After all, she was elected by her party as a direct candidate. Current polls show that she is quite popular and would have chances to help shape politics in the future. One of her main goals is to further support rights for queer people - and among other things, to abolish the aforementioned psychological assessment for transsexuals.
Criticism of the system and the examinations associated with it is not new. On social networks, too, many people are now saying how degrading it is to have to undergo this procedure in order to be truly recognized as a man or woman.
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Over time, politics has also become more tolerant and open to queers. Among others, Wowereit, Spahn and Westerwelle (deceased 2016) are now among the best-known homosexual politicians.
However, the case surrounding Tessa Ganserer is new in that she is the first politician to openly admit to her transsexuality. In this respect, it is certainly understandable that the procedure of merely putting her current name in brackets has met with a lot of headwind - also and especially in the community.
Nevertheless, it is positive that it seems as if Ganserer can rely on the support of her party. And even if the Bavarian state committee is (still?) of a different opinion, surely no one doubts that it takes precisely the determination that Ganserer is currently displaying to make policy - regardless of the respective party.
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Self-made problem. The legal situation is as it is. Since Ganserer is running for the Bundestag as a direct candidate and on the list, among other things, she must comply with applicable laws, otherwise her election would also be contestable. Quite a naive approach.
But apparently the problem of her name is the main issue she's working on.