The free development of personality is a fundamental and human right and must be protected; at the same time, the situation for queer people around the world is becoming increasingly worse. Everyone here in Germany must be able to live freely, without fear and in safety. Safe from hatred, violence, discrimination and insults, said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his speech at the second queer political human rights conference of the SPD parliamentary group in Berlin.

“First of all, I want to say: good timing! You deliberately did not schedule your conference in June, when rainbow flags are finally being raised everywhere, when Pride parades are taking place across the country, when every company is running particularly colorful campaigns. Instead, you chose September for your conference, when parliamentary work starts again.

This sends two important signals: First, there is still a lot of work to be done for equality, respect and recognition here and around the world. Secondly, the concern that everyone can live and love safely and without discrimination is important not just one month a year, but every day.

After all, you are not only queer when you demonstrate and celebrate together at the CSD, but 365 days a year at work, when renting an apartment, in the hospital or in a nursing home, in the digital space, where queer people are often treated with hostility; on the street or in the subway, where queer couples wonder whether they are safe holding hands or kissing; at school, where young people are excluded.

I want to say one thing that sounds obvious but unfortunately is not always self-evident: everyone here in Germany must be able to live freely, without fear and in safety – safe from hatred, violence, discrimination and insults.

Protection and security are the most important thing, but there is more to it than that. As you know, I am committed to a society of respect, a society in which no one looks down on others, in which everyone can live as they want - as long as they do not restrict the freedom of others, of course.

That is essentially what it is about when we talk about the upcoming reform of the law on descent or the new right of self-determination. These reforms do not threaten anyone. They do not take anything away from anyone. But they mean an infinite amount to those affected. That is why I advocate calmness and respect in the discussion about them.

I think it’s good that you are looking beyond Germany at your conference. Of course, there is still a lot to improve here too; we all know that. But the discrimination and persecution of queer people in many other parts of the world is many times worse, not to say unbearable. We, who advocate for international solidarity and human rights, must never forget that.

Over the past two years, as chair of the Equal Rights Coalition, together with Mexico, we have repeatedly taken a clear stand on the international stage against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender characteristics. When I travel abroad, I regularly meet with NGOs and human rights groups, not only to support them, but also to give them support. I address the human rights situation in my discussions in critical countries, and that is really necessary. Georgia, for example, has just passed an anti- LGBTQI law that is discriminatory and violates basic human rights. I say very clearly: This is also distancing Georgia from Europe”, - said Olaf Scholz.