Time and again, people are victims of discrimination, hostility or hatred because of their sexual identity or orientation. Just a few weeks ago, two queer people were suddenly attacked by strangers in Frankfurt’s Bleichstrasse, and a homosexual couple was also attacked in Berlin at the end of January. Equality and acceptance are still a long way off in parts of the population.
Unterföhring should now show solidarity with the community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersexual and queer people and stand up against discrimination and hatred. The local SPD parliamentary group is committed to this with an application to the committee: In order to set a visible sign for sexual diversity, tolerance and openness, they are calling for rainbow flags to be purchased.
On certain occasions, such as the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia on May 17th, Christopher Street Day on June 28th or the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th, the flags should then be hung on communal flags Buildings and facilities in Unterföhring are hoisted. According to the SPD, the initiative for the application came from non-party parliamentary group member Saran Diané.
According to the SPD application, the rainbow flag has been an international symbol of diversity and respect since the 1970s and at the same time stands for commitment against homophobia and transphobia. Many places in Germany have been showing solidarity with the LGBTQI community for a long time: the flag is also hoisted at Munich City Hall and the Allianz Arena on relevant commemoration days.
“As a community, we want to fight to support the interests of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersexual and queer people for equality in our society,” writes the SPD in its motion. “Our community should also symbolically express this basic political attitude by hoisting the rainbow flag regularly and as a matter of course in the future.”