Brave use for queer visibility: Jannes Wiesner fights in Friesland!

Brave use for queer visibility: Jannes Wiesner fights in Friesland!

In Friesland something is happening! Jannes Wiesner, the 24-year-old deputy chairman of the SPD Friesland, is committed to a great concern: the visibility and acceptance of the queer community. Wiesner lives openly as a gay man and emphasizes that the district of Friesland, although open and tolerant, urgently needs more visible places for queer life. "There are no meeting points and offers for the LSBTIQ*community," said Wiesner. Despite the progress in Germany, which went hand in hand with the deletion of paragraph 175 and the introduction of "marriage for everyone", social change remains a challenge, especially in rural regions.

The need for interesting contact points is illustrated by the closure of a queer advice center, which was launched in Friesland two years ago on the initiative of the SPD. After the wearer was lost, the abdominal pain had to be discussed again. "I now look for a new partner to revive the advice center," explains Wiesner. Positive examples such as AIDShilfe in Wilhelmshaven show what regional cooperation can look like.

acceptance and solidarity

with the start of the campaign "What is queer?" On April 8, 2025, the topic of queer is clearly focused on. Initiated by the queer representative Sven Lehmann, the campaign aims to promote the acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans*and intersex and queer in society. According to Lehmann, the majority of people in Germany accept the LSBTIQ*community as an equivalent part of society, but the threats from right-wing extremist and religious forces are increasing. At least six attacks are reported to queer people every day, which underlines the urgency of acceptance work again. The website www.wasistqueer.de offers important information and support.

A "Queer Life" action plan, which was also launched by the Federal Government, comprises six fields of action that are intended to promote educational and acceptance work. In December 2024, an interim report informed about the implementation status and announced that it would publish more reports every two years.

challenges for refugees LSBTIQ*

Another aspect that is often overlooked are the special challenges in front of which LSBTIQ refugees are facing. These people have often suffered massive discrimination and violent experiences in their countries of origin and while fleeing. Politicians, such as in the state of Brandenburg, take this experience into account. Support offers focus on violence prevention and protection of violence, so that nothing stands in the way of a safe arrival. Projects such as "Queer Integration" of the Katte e. V. show how to sensitize the special needs of these people and build up good advisory structures.

Wiesner warns that despite the legal progress in Germany, legal equality does not automatically mean social acceptance. "It is important to actively stand up for the Queere Community to make life more secure and freer for all people," concludes the young politician, who has lived in a supportive relationship with his friend for six and a half years.