Talks on changing the Constitution: Will Wegner stay true to his promise?

Swiss Federal Government Deals with Crisis Situations - Talks on changing the Constitution: Will Wegner stay true to his promise?

The Green and Left political parties in the state parliament want the Senate to support laws that protect LGBTQ+ individuals in the Basic Law. This was promised last year by the mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (CDU), during the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event. The two opposition parties are urging Wegner to make good on his promise in a motion called "Berlin Stands by Its Word: LSBTIQ* Discrimination Protection at Last in the Basic Law." This will be discussed in the next House of Representatives session on June 20th.

The idea is for Berlin to propose an expansion of Article 3 of the Basic Law to include sexual identity. Wegner mentioned this possibility at last year's CSD. The CSD organizer now wants Wegner to keep his word before he opens this year's CSD.

Social Senator voices concerns

Berlin's Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD), who is responsible for equality, integration, diversity, and anti-discrimination, feels a constitutional amendment can't be rushed. She says, "To be very clear: Here, the approval of a large part of the democratic opposition factions is required. That means that every individual vote of the Bundestag members will matter." Kiziltepe warns against unrealistic expectations and states that her goal was to present a draft to the Senate as soon as possible, so it can be sent to the Bundesrat for a decision.

Kiziltepe's administration has been working on a draft for the Bundesrat initiative to modify Article 3 of the Basic Law for several months. She notes, "This article was written to protect exactly those groups that suffered unimaginable suffering under the National Socialist Unjust Regime." The queer community was excluded, as homosexual acts were banned in West Germany under Paragraph 175 StGB until 1994. In today's climate of increasing queerphobia and the rise of right-wing populism, securing legal protection for the queer community is more important than ever.

CSD: Berlin shouldn't wait

According to Thomas Hoffmann, head of the political campaign for CSD, Berlin can't delay this action: "The time is pressing, because we don't know if we can still count on the necessary progressive government majority after the Bundestag election."

Kiziltepe's administration intends to submit the proposal for the Bundesrat initiative to the Senate but acknowledges that Berlin has attempted similar initiatives but not reached a majority. "For a constitutional amendment, we need a two-thirds majority in the Bundesrat, so good coordination with the Senate Chancellery is important." In addition, the amendment must be approved by the Bundestag with a two-thirds majority.

Left: Berlin must take action

Lederer, the Left Party's speaker on queer politics, feels the amendment to Article 3 of the Basic Law is overdue. "In the face of international backlash and hate directed at the queer community here, it's necessary for Berlin to step forward and actively engage in the Bundesrat."

The Greens are also urgently calling for action. Deputies Sebastian Walter and Laura Neugebauer, who handle queer politics for the faction, say, "We wholeheartedly support the demand of the Berlin CSD e.V. and stand firmly behind it. Berlin must still present a concrete proposal before the Berlin CSD on July 27th in the form of a Bundesrat initiative."

Read also:

1. The SPD's Social Senator, Cansel Kiziltepe, emphasizes that achieving approval for the constitutional amendment from the Bundestag members will require every individual vote, as a large part of the democratic opposition factions are expected to contribute to the approval process.
2. Last year, during the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event, the mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (CDU), pledged to support laws that protect LGBTQ+ individuals in the Basic Law, prompting the Green and Left political parties to urge him to follow through on his promise.
3. The SPD's Cansel Kiziltepe stresses the importance of securing legal protection for the queer community in today's climate of increasing queerphobia and the rise of right-wing populism, highlighting that Article 3 of the Basic Law was written to protect marginalized groups.
4. In response to the urging of the Green and Left political parties, Kai Wegner suggested expanding Article 3 of the Basic Law to include sexual identity, which is now being considered for a draft to be presented to the Senate by Kiziltepe's administration.
5. Thomas Hoffmann, head of the political campaign for CSD, urges Berlin to prioritize the proposed expansion of Article 3 of the Basic Law, citing the uncertainty of maintaining a progressive government majority after the Bundestag election.
6. The Left Party's speaker on queer politics, Lederer, supports the demand for an amendment to Article 3 of the Basic Law, advocating for Berlin's active engagement in the Bundesrat to combat international backlash and hate directed towards the queer community.

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