LGBTQ+ History in Germany: Celebrating 44 Years of Pride

Germany is currently considered one of the safest and most progressive countries in the world for LGBTQ+ people to live. Ranking in the Top 15 countries in the annual Rainbow Europe Map, the nation is rated highly for its prominent equality legislation, fair social attitudes and general anti-discriminatory regulations. However, LGBTQ+ life in Germany was not always so progressive, and with 14 countries ahead of it in the ranking there are certainly aspects regarding the treatment of the community that it could improve on.

Find out more about the journey towards equal rights Germany went on these past few decades, and the path it still needs to follow to reach authentic inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community.

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Political/Social History

Prior to the late 20th century, Germany’s history surrounding the LGBTQ+ community was – like many countries - incredibly hostile. Despite this, in the early 1900s many underground clubs and discreet meetings were held by members of the community, and the laws banning homosexuality were not heavily enforced here. For some time, despite discriminative legislation, Germany was a relatively secure place to identify within the community. However, the 1930s saw any hint of progression take several steps back with the rise of Nazism.

Described as the most severe persecution of the community in recorded history, the extent of abuse, torture and ruthless murder of LGBTQ+ people – particularly homosexual men – was colossal. Prior to the 1930s, convictions of homosexuality saw around 10 people arrested per year. During the rise of Nazism, this figure rose to 8,000 per year within Germany alone, with members of the community sentenced to prison and in many cases, subject to torture and murder in concentration camps.

The lasting impact of this devastating development led to the country retaining a hostile society for LGBTQ+ people, even following the downfall of the Nazi dictatorship. Homosexuality was decriminalized across Germany in 1968 – but still, this did not mean it was safe for LGBTQ+ individuals to be their authentic selves in public at the time. Gradual developments saw equal rights for queer people slowly coming in, such as the very first Pride march in Berlin in 1979, and the age of consent being equalized in 1989. In 2002, sixty years on from the events of World War Two, the German Government finally overturned convictions for homosexuality made during Nazi Germany.