The Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Ferda Ataman, has voiced concern regarding the approach of the CDU and CSU parties concerning LGBTQI+ issues.
Speaking to the “Wochentaz”, Ataman criticized recent remarks that compared the concerns of queer individuals to a circus tent, describing the statement as “not only flippant but fatal” given the rise of far-right rhetoric targeting minorities within parliamentary settings.
The critique follows a recent increase in reported cases reaching the Federal Anti-Discrimination Office, alongside incidents of attacks on Pride parades and individuals within the LGBTQI+ community. Despite this climate, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) recently issued an order prohibiting the display of the rainbow flag at the Reichstag building, a decision that ignited public debate. Chancellor Friedrich Merz subsequently entered the discussion with the comment, “The Bundestag is not a circus tent.
Ataman cautioned that the actions and statements of government officials have a significant impact on public sentiment. She also noted that sentiments of resentment and discrimination have been indirectly or directly fostered within the Bundestag during the previous “traffic light” coalition government’s tenure. As an example, she cited debates surrounding asylum policies, which she argued have broader consequences impacting perceptions of all individuals perceived as foreigners.
Furthermore, Ataman condemned the attacks targeting Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, a candidate for the Federal Constitutional Court. She stated that a highly regarded jurist, often viewed as conservative within professional circles, was unfairly labeled as a “left-wing activist” and delegitimized. Ataman identified this as a recurring pattern: “Individuals seeking responsible positions are systematically undermined by imputing a supposedly questionable political agenda”.