Matthias Schumacher was "Mr Fetish Biker 2008". When he passed on his title at the Berlin Easter Meeting in 2009, he had a good idea: he founded "We are one family". The organisation campaigns for the coexistence of disabled and non-disabled gay men and raises awareness about HIV. On its first anniversary, Matthias takes stock.
Matthias, can you first explain to us exactly what you do?
We are 10 more or less permanent members who endeavour to integrate disabled, deaf and blind people into the gay scene.
What does that look like in concrete terms?
Last year, for example, we provided sign language interpreters for dozens of events. We give speeches and talks from a disability perspective and about life as a disabled person in the scene, look at scene venues to see how accessible they are and try to raise awareness. But it's often very practical: last week we gave Café PositHiv in Berlin a set of Braille menus. Which café has something like that?
Why did you found "We are one Family"?
I trained as a nurse in Halle and have always lived with disabled people there and spent a lot of time in homes for the disabled. And even back then I always pointed out that they also have a sex life, go out and want to have fun. And that the gay scene is not particularly well prepared for this. Many HIV-positive people are also physically limited and therefore can't go anywhere. That has to change. That's why the organisation. I also immediately received broad support from the other gay misters in Germany, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Berlin Senate and a whole range of other organisations.
You have now celebrated your first anniversary again at the traditional Easter goulash organised by the Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at Cafe PositHiv.
Yes, the sisters were the first to bless us at the Berlin street festival last year and support our campaign there. We released 99 balloons to draw attention to "We are one family".
Why does your logo look the way it does?
It was important to me to really emphasise that wheelchair users, people with HIV, visually impaired, blind and deaf people are all part of the scene - that we really are all one family whose members have to look after each other. And that's why they all appear in the logo.
The current role model for ICH WEISS WAS ICH TU is Corrie, a wheelchair user from Cologne. What do you think of him and his story?
Super! Corrie rocks, claims his place in the scene and is completely natural, even in dealing with his sexuality. Which can only be a good thing.
(Interview: Paul Schulz)
