L-R: Ian Thomas (Secretary General, Rainbow Rose), Danny Beales MP, Lisa Skone (Staffer), Liv Bailey MP, Rachel Taylor MP, Simon Blake (CEO, Stonewall), Luke Murphy MP, Oliver Strotzer (Co-chair, SPDqueer, Daniel Aldridge MP, Chris Murray MP, Carola Ebhardt (Treasurer, Rainbow Rose)
Earlier this month, we facilitated the coming together of LGBT+ Members of Parliament from UK Labour and SPD Germany in Berlin for a bi-lateral symposium to tackle hatred against the LGBTIQ+ communities in the two countries.
The combination of a rise in hatred and violence against the LGBTIQ+ community directed in part by populist and far-right movements and activists, is twinned with the parallel rise in support of AfD in Germany and Reform in the UK amongst sections of the LGBTIQ+ community compelled these MPs to take action. These alarming developments require a move for social democratic parties in the UK and Germany to analyse the reasons why these two situations have come about, and to formulate a strategy to tackle them. We wanted to join that initiative as partners, and thank project lead Daniel Aldridge MP to include our participation.
From the UK, 7 members of the LGBT+ group of Labour MPs, including the former equalities minister, were joined by the CEO of Stonewall as part of the fact-finding and strategy building delegation to Berlin between 5th and 6th October. We were hosted by Sebastian Roloff MdB, SPD and SPDqueer; and had support from the British Embassy.
Over the course of two days, we had briefings on the position of the AfD, an overview of the political situation in Germany and the UK, met with SPDqueer co-chairs to understand how intimidation by the far-right has impacted on activists and participants, and heard from Forbidden Colours and ILGA Europe, on how money and organisations are funding and planning these sustained attacks on the community, offering ideas on how we could combat that. It was followed by a strategy meeting where commitments were made to keep this door open for bi-lateral discussion and action planning over the coming months.
As well as a tour of the Reichstag, we also took a sobering walk in the Tiergarten to visit not only the Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism but also to show solidarity and respect to the victims of the attack on CSD Berlin this summer by taking a moment of reflection at the site of the attack. We hope to pay a return visit in summer next year at pride in order to show solidarity and strength.
Rainbow Rose commits to supporting this bilateral project, and want to play as full a part as possible to bring about a joint plan to combat the rise of the far-right, and to challenge those in our community who are flirting with support for the far-right.
