The Cologne CSD is in full swing. The legendary Gürzenich, from which the carnival sessions are usually broadcast, was the venue for the official CSD reception organised by the NRW Gay Network at midday today. More than 700 guests from politics, NGOs and society attended. The event was hosted by Georg Roth, alias Sister George, during which the compass pin was awarded for outstanding services to the promotion and acceptance of lesbian and gay lifestyles.
A bit of carnival wafted through the Gürzenich when Sister George stormed into the hall and began to lead through the CSD reception. Humorous, entertaining and spontaneous, he looked back on a year of (queer) politics, events and personal experiences. He commented cheekily and ironically on the rejection of same-sex marriage in the Bundestag and the high number of political functionaries at this year's reception. This was so surprising, he said, as all the important election campaigns for this year were over and it was still too early for the Bundestag election campaign.
The centrepiece of the event, however, was the awarding of compass pins to people who have rendered outstanding services to the lesbian and gay scene.
Laudator Stefan Meschig gave an impressive account of the life of the couple Ludwig Rubruck and Alfred Schiefer. Both in their early 80s, they experienced their inner coming out in the middle of the dark times of the Nazi regime. It was only after the war that they were even able to live their homosexuality within still narrow limits.
Alfred and Ludwig: a couple for over 60 years
In true Cologne fashion, Alfred and Ludwig met during the 1956 carnival. And have been a couple ever since.
They became known throughout Germany for their voluntary work for homosexuals and the establishment of gay self-help structures in Cologne. In the 1980s and 1990s, their public appearances on programmes such as "Boulevard Bio" and "Schreinemakers" helped to promote acceptance of homosexuals in society.
In 2001, they were among the first to register their civil partnership and have been campaigning for the opening up of marriage ever since. Alfred's wish is to finally be able to say: "This is my husband."
Dannecker and the "gay big bang"
The compass pin for "particularly prominent commitment to promoting social acceptance of the gay minority" was awarded to the author and sexologist Prof Dr Martin Dannecker.
In 1974, he published the first empirical study on homosexual lifestyles. He played a key role in the film "Not the homosexual is perverted, but the situation in which he lives" by Rosa von Praunheim. The NRW Gay Network described this work by Dannecker as a "gay big bang" in Germany. It led to the founding of many gay groups and initiatives.
To this day, Dannecker's research and theories continue to provide material for discussion, especially within the community. And it was clear from his exciting acceptance speech that his commitment is far from over. In his speech, too, he repeatedly pointed the finger at wounds, for example when he criticised the excessive adaptation of homosexuals to the heteronormative mainstream. This adaptation would not necessarily lead to more freedom or acceptance.
There were long standing ovations for all three award winners. The laudators, but also the audience, were clearly proud of the award winners, but also moved by the impressive lives of these men.
While the basses of the Pride music stages in the Gürzenich were already clearly audible from outside, the Cologne CSD had a political climax this lunchtime.
