The reports about graffiti and vandalized memorials in Cologne do not stop. Now the memorial in Cologne is also affected. This was erected in memory of queer victims of the Nazi era. The perpetrators disfigured it with scribbles and showed once again that homophobia is still a big problem today, even in Germany.
This is not an exception. Only recently, the stele in Mainz was also scribbled on. The acts shock again and again - not only the people who belong to the community, but also those who feel connected to it.
What does the Cologne memorial say?
As already mentioned, the Cologne memorial is primarily intended to commemorate the people who lost their lives during the National Socialist era. At that time, quite a few queers were persecuted, deported to camps and finally killed. The science is still busy today to reappraise the corresponding cases, because among others homosexuals often experienced little visibility in the mass of victims.
However, the message of the memorial in Cologne goes beyond the time of National Socialism. The memorial is also intended to give courage and stand for the power of the community.
The defaced stone is soon to be cleaned. However, the real problem, homophobia in parts of society, still exists.
The community is shocked
Many members of the community see the defaced monument as much more than the product of classic vandalism. Because: They recognize the message behind it. The graffiti shows once again how hostile many people still are towards queers today. At the same time, the act underscores that the acts of National Socialism are still apparently trivialized by many. A slap in the face of all those who are still working for more enlightenment in this area.
Numerous queers denounce again and again that the hatred within society is still present today. And that more actions are needed to show that homophobia has no place in the 21st century.
Calls for better education on queer hate crimes grow louder
Among other things, also in the context of CSDs, it is repeatedly demanded that there is a need for a rethinking in politics with regard to queer hate crimes. Because: the line between damage to property and bodily harm is generally quickly crossed. There are also still many queer people in Germany who do not feel safe in everyday life. Among other things, numerous gay men write in social networks that they do not dare, for example, to walk hand in hand across the street together with their boyfriend.
To show how big the problem is and how deep the hatred against queers is still present today, many action alliances, among others, demand to take a closer look at reports of hate crimes, but also at actions like the incident in Cologne, and to categorize the acts as clearly homophobic. The documentation here is still a bit too "fuzzy" for many.
Cologne commemorates queer victims of National Socialism at the end of January
Despite the recent incidents(and perhaps JUST because of them?), the commemoration ceremony for the victims of National Socialism in Cologne planned for January 27, 2022 is to take place at the memorial. Currently, however, it is not yet clear whether it will be possible to attend the event on site. An alternative would be an online event. Either way, the message against hate and for more tolerance will be carried out into the world again this year.
Did you know that Sven Lehmann will be the new queer commissioner?
Great that the federal government appoints a queer commissioner from the Greens.
That the AFD, whose deputies and supporters have bird shit instead of a brain, are against it - who is surprised?
A party whose leader has called the Nazi dictatorship and the Holocaust a bird shit of history is completely out of the question.
Good luck to the new commissioner! We stand behind you!
Very good article about the smeared and destroyed Cologne memorial to the persecuted homosexuals. I did not know that at all. All the more important is the resistance against the right: we are colorful ! We are many!