Law proposal: 'Clear stance' needed for queer rights protection, says Krach

Steffen Krach, a leading SPD candidate, is demanding that all democratic parties in the Bundestag take a clear position on protecting queer individuals. This call comes in the wake of an attack at a CSD event and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the protection of sexual identity.

Krach specifically challenged the CDU, stating that if they are serious about protecting queer people, they must finally move forward in the Bundestag and approve the amendment to Article 3 of the Basic Law. This amendment aims to anchor protection based on sexual identity. He also called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to allow a vote without party discipline, suggesting that the CDU might otherwise block the measure.

The current Article 3 of the Basic Law prohibits discrimination based on gender, origin, race, language, faith, or political beliefs. In September 2025, the Bundesrat, at the initiative of the state of Berlin, decided to expand this article by adding "sexual identity." A bill reflecting this was subsequently introduced in the Bundestag.

However, the legislative initiative appears to be stalled. A text-identical bill from the Green Party was debated in the Bundestag in October, but it was then referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection. Since then, no visible progress has been made, as parliamentary committees do not have fixed consultation periods or deadlines.