On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia, the Federal Government’s Queer Coordinator, Sophie Koch, called for stronger legal protection and genuine equality for queer people. Speaking to ARD on Friday, Koch stated, “The central message of this day is that queer people want to live safely, freely, and with self-determination-and we still have a long way to go to achieve that”.
Koch highlighted several existing legal loopholes. She demands a reform of the law of descent to ensure that lesbian couples are automatically recognized as a second mother from birth. Furthermore, she is pushing for an amendment to Article 3 of the Basic Law, calling for explicit constitutional protection for sexual orientation. Koch pointed out that “people were persecuted under this Basic Law until the 1990s simply because they were gay”.
She also emphasized the importance of the Self-Determination Act (Selbstbestimmungsgesetz), calling it a “huge gain for the community” because it finally enables many people to “live according to their own identity”. Koch stressed that the law does not undermine women’s rights and must be defended against political attacks.
Looking ahead to the Christopher Street Day (CSD) season, Koch noted progress but warned of increasing queer hostility. “The wind is getting rougher. Queerphobia, campaigns, and even criminal acts are increasing” she said. Consequently, she argues that CSDs remain necessary. She observed growing attendance both from within the community and from outside it.
Koch criticized the decision in Dresden that would no longer classify parts of the CSD as political assemblies, asserting, “The queer protest has always been diverse-and still protest”.
The coordinator faced intense criticism after an Instagram post where she was shown with Alice Schwarzer, J.K. Rowling, and US President Donald Trump. Koch rebutted the criticism, clarifying, “No, the post was not a mistake”. She stated that the goal was to make it clear that women’s rights and trans rights cannot be played against each other.
Lastly, despite public criticism, Koch maintains that her professional relationship with Family Minister Karin Prien remains unburdened. She framed the differing views as part of political debate and confirmed that a discussion with the minister has already been scheduled.