Parties plan to extend deadline around applications for compensation on § 175 StGB
Homosexual men continued to be discriminated against in Germany after the end of the war in 1945.
This kind of exclusion did not only come from society. Rather, there were also laws that massively impaired the rights of homosexual people. These included above all § 175 of the STGB, which was relevant until 1994.
This paragraph stated that sexual acts between two men were punishable. For some time now, people who have experienced discrimination in this context have had the opportunity to apply for compensation.
The problem: The deadline by which the relevant documents should be submitted would actually expire on July 22, 2022. However, the traffic light coalition is now planning to extend said deadline.
What is the case for extending the deadline around compensation to Section 175 of the STGB?
In the parties, it is mainly the queer political spokespersons who advocate for an extension of the compensation of the victims of § 175 STGB. They want applications to be able to be submitted even after July 22, 2022.
One of the reasons for postponing the deadline: There are still far too many victims of the former § 175 STGB who do not even know yet that they have a right to compensation. The procedure itself is actually not difficult. But if you don't know what you're entitled to, you can't file an application.
There are also already some ideas on how to make the right to compensation better known. One of them comes from the FDP.
FDP would like to start a campaign
It is not only the SPD that is campaigning for the extension of the deadline around compensation. The Greens, for example, are also on board. Some politicians also emphasize in this context that it cannot be ruled out that many men do not want to apply for compensation out of a sense of shame.
Statistically, many of the victims are at an age when it makes sense to launch a campaign in the Apothekenumschau, for example. For this reason, the FDP is of the opinion that advertising should be carried out here, among other places, but also in various early evening public information programs. The way via social media is also certainly sensible.
The coffers from which the compensation is to be paid are still well filled. At that time, 30 million euros were set aside for the victims of § 175 STGB. Until now, however, only a fraction has been paid out. This is precisely what is to change in the future.
With how much money will the victims of the paragraph be compensated?
Victims who apply for compensation can often claim several thousand euros - if the corresponding application is granted. A conviction based on the paragraph is compensated with approximately 3,000 euros. Those who were even arrested because of their sexual orientation often receive an additional 1,500 euros (per year or part thereof).
And: What for a long time applied only to convicted persons is now to become effective for persecuted persons as well. No official judgment is required to apply for compensation.
Anyone who needs further information on how to apply can find out on the homepage of the Federal Office of Justice. All important and useful information for affected persons has been compiled there. The corresponding application form can also be downloaded directly.
Whether the above-mentioned deadline will now be extended or not is not yet clear. That is why it is all the more important that the news about the fact that those affected have a right to compensation spreads even faster. In this way, it can already be ensured that as many of those affected as possible experience a little more justice.