Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) ordered the raising of the rainbow flag at the German Bundestag this Sunday, a practice she has maintained since last year.
When asked about the timing, Klöckner explained that the choice of May 17 is based on a clear parliamentary occasion. This date commemorates the 2002 Bundestag decision to rehabilitate the victims of Nazi-era justice who were homosexual. Furthermore, May 17 is designated internationally as the day against homophobia. She noted that the display adheres to the standing federal flag regulations, which permit the rainbow flag to be flown only once per year at federal buildings; thus, the flag is positioned on May 17 rather than on the traditional Christopher Street Day (CSD).
Klöckner also highlighted that May 17 is linked to the World Health Organization’s decision from 1990 to remove homosexuality from its diagnostic manual.
This handling of the flag for the CSD prompted controversy, particularly as it deviated from the practice of her predecessor, Bärbel Bas (SPD), who had flown the flag on CSD. Klöckner’s decision to forego the flag display on the traditional CSD date has drawn criticism from queer organizations, elements of the opposition, and the SPD.
Regarding the use of the flag across government departments, the commitment remains inconsistent. According to a survey conducted by the publication “Tagesspiegel”, most ministries plan to display the flag this Sunday. Conversely, the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Transport, and the Federal Chancellery have opted not to display it. The Family Ministry and the Defence Ministry, along with the Federal Council, plan to fly the flag specifically on this year’s Berliner Christopher Street Day on July 25. Additionally, compliance is not uniform, as some ministries have not yet clarified whether they will adhere to the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s mandate that restricts the flag to a single day.