CSD participation of Chancellor Merz would be “strong sign” according to the LSU boss

Mr. Siegmann, no rainbow flag is blowing on the Bundestag this year. Your party friend decided that Julia Klöckner. A step back for queer people?
It is true that this year there will be no rainbow flag during the Berlin CSD on the parliament building. But it is also correct that on the international day against queer hostility on May 17th, the rainbow flag was blew on the Reichstag and will continue to blow in the future.

And is that more understandable for you now?
I can understand Julia Klöckner’s argument of political neutrality but not understand. At least I would have liked a much better communication.

The Bundestag president should only have explained the decision better?
At least that would have helped. Now it seems as if the community’s parliament is turning its back on. It may not be a desired step backwards, but a felt. The decision acts as a back on the Bundestag from the achievements for gays and lesbians. Julia Klöckner is rightly under fire.

And now the rainbow network of the Bundestag administration is also prohibited from participating in the CSD.
Taken together, this is a devastating signal. Point. Especially because the group of employees was already registered. I understand the formal argument that one should not appear there with the sovereignty of the German Bundestag. But also for that, compromises could have been found.

You speak of false signals and impressions. What makes her so sure that this is not a conscious departure from your party from queer people?
This is not a political realignment. The protection of queer people was included in the new fundamental program of the CDU last year. This is a huge progress. Friedrich Merz was a guest in 2023 and said decidedly that the CDU and he personally learned on this topic, thanks to the LSU. He is serious, I know that from the personal conversations with him.

In the past, he had sometimes said problematic about homosexuals.
I can tell you one thing: Friedrich Merz is not an enemy of queer.

There are currently so many attacks on queer people like not for a long time, CSDs are threatened. Wouldn’t it be a good signal if Friedrich Merz runs on a CSD?
Friedrich Merz ‘participation in a CSD would certainly be a strong sign. Maybe nobody has invited him yet. I think he would do that. But the truth also includes: my party is often unloaded or booed at these events. We are apparently suitable as a perfect enemy. I know that from my own appearances. Then I just keep talking until people may listen to me at some point.

They once said there were people in the CDU who made a bow around the LSU at party parliament or other events. How much do you even feel at home as a gay man in your party?
The CDU is my political home and it is a popular party with an extremely broad spectrum of members. Of course I am not satisfied with everything. But there are a lot of things that change, from the inside.

As Boss They also sit on the CDU federal executive board of the LSU. How often are queer topics on the agenda there?
Above all, they were always on the agenda when they were missing somewhere else: in the fundamental program, at the European elections or in the election program. I know that the CDU is far from being at the destination in queer policy. But we are on the way.

How can the relationship between the queer community and Julia Klöckner kitten?
I asked René Powilleit, the Berlin LSU chairman, to invite Julia Klöckner to the LSU car for this year’s CSD on July 26th. Then she can ride on the car privately, very neutral without a guideline and get an idea. It would be a strong signal – especially after the latest irritation – if Julia Klöckner would do that. After all, tolerance is not a one -way street.