Prominent members of the German trans+ community share their thoughts on the new law, passed on 12 April, which seeks to make updating your legal name and gender marker easier.

WORDS BY SAMUEL BENKE
ARTWORK BY YOSEF PHELAN

Since 1981, Germany’s trans, non-binary and intersex communities were forced to contend with the so-called ‘Transsexual Law’ (TSG for short) if they wanted to legally change their name and gender marker. 

Entailing a long, costly and often discriminatory review process, individuals were required to present to a local court with reports by two experts “sufficiently familiar with the particular problems of transsexualism” who could attest that, in all likelihood, they would not want to revert back to the gender they were assigned at birth.

In the many years since the TSG was first implemented, the proportion of people who reversed their decision remained the same: around 1%. Nevertheless, under the TSG, people had to undergo a months-long, degrading assessment process, which was not only expensive at – costing around €2,000 – but also, allegedly, asked for intimate details about the candidate’s childhood and sexual past.

Some of the law’s most dehumanising regulations, thankfully, were classified as unconstitutional over the years; such as the stipulations requiring individuals be unmarried (forcing some to attain a divorce in order to be eligible) which was repealed in 2008, or those requiring that candidates be infertile or undergo sterilisation, which was repealed in 2011. 

Understandably, the pain and injustices of TSG have run deep, among multiple generations, during the legislation’s 44 year history. However, on 12 April 2024, the act was finally replaced by the new Selbstbestimmungsgesetz (SBGG), or Self-Determination Law. 

 

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The German government confirmed in February 2021 that they were working on a draft. Now, three years later, the law has been passed and will come into effect from November of this year. Chief among its benefits is that it hugely simplifies the process of updating your name and gender marker: trans, non-binary and intersex folks will be able to present themselves at a civil registry and update their information via a simple declaration. No court deliberation, medical certificates or external opinions will be required. 

In order to protect people from forced outing, the new law will continue to prohibit the research and disclosure of trans+ folks’ previous gender markers or deadnames. If an affected person is intentionally harmed by this disclosure, the individual who released the information will be subject to a fine. The hope is simple – less discrimination and more self-determination. Human rights organisations and activist groups have been advocating for these changes for years now. 

Large sections of Germany’s queer community are celebrating the successful decision on the Selbstbestimmungsgesetz, but not everyone is happy with the new law. For example, the advocacy group Selbstbestimmung Selbst Gemacht (in English: Self-Determination, Self-Made), submitted its own proposal last summer to compensate for what it sees as the shortcomings of the current draft. It calls for “immediate compensation” for people who have been wronged under the TSG, an answer to questions on domiciliary rights (It is up to a woman’s sauna owner, for example, to decide who can enter the establishment, leading many trans people to fear they will continue to be discriminated against based on their “passing”), and special protection for trans+ refugees which the new law does not contain.

This law contains the promise that self-determination is a human right and that it must be up to each person to make their own decisions about themselves and their body. 

It’s not just Self-Determination, Self-Made who have been vocal about their concerns with the law. Additionally, in May 2023, Germany’s Federal Association of Intersex People also commented on a draft version of the law – in this case critiquing the lack of inclusion for intersex people in some sections of the bill. 

Reservations such as the above remind us that the fight is still ongoing and that conversations around self-determination are far from done. But many see the new Selbstbestimmungsgesetz as a positive start and hopefully a major step towards making the lives of Germany’s trans, non-binary and intersex communities easier. While lots of questions remain unanswered, this law contains the promise that self-determination is a human right and that it must be up to each person to make their own decisions about themselves and their body. 

In order to explore how Germany’s trans+ community is reacting to the news, GAY TIMES spoke to three prominent voices – each committed to their community’s rights in a public-facing capacity – to find out what changes they hope the law will bring about and whether they think it goes far enough.

 

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Phenix, she/her

Actress, singer and artist based in Berlin.

The TSG, which was progressive 40 years ago, is of course outdated today and portrays trans people as individuals who first need a psychological diagnosis in order to make personal decisions. 

This type of legislation has an impact on how we are perceived as a community. Are we people who can “change” our gender entry and name relatively easily, or people who need to see a psychiatrist first to prove that we are sane?

Respect, common sense and self-initiative when it comes to education about trans people – I would like to see more of that in the future.

This law will clarify some things legally. Nevertheless, there are still so many people who have a certain fear of contact with queer people. Of course, I want to give these people the benefit of the doubt but sometimes I find it a bit difficult because there are so many educational opportunities out there. 

So many people, including me, put out content that you can use to learn about [the trans+ community]. A lot of hurt can also be avoided by using common sense – not asking me at the supermarket checkout whether I am planning a genital operation, for example. That should be logical. Respect, common sense and self-initiative when it comes to education about trans people – I would like to see more of that in the future.

 

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Avi Jakobs, dey/she/him

TV personality based in Berlin.

This new law will be a huge relief for lots of people. It will take away a lot of people’s power over us if the law states that all people are free to decide who they are. 

At the same time, though, it is only the bare minimum. There is still so much room for improvement. After this first, important step, we can continue to work towards a fairer, more diverse society. Then we can talk about compensation for everything that has been done to so many over the last forty years under the TSG. 

After this first, important step, we can continue to work towards a fairer, more diverse society.

In the future, I would like to see more visibility for non-binary people in everyday life and in public. That the fear which queer, non-binary people feel when they go into bathrooms and changing rooms is also recognised. What about our point of view? Why are we not allowed to feel safe? I want us to be included in studies, I want us to be considered. It is still dangerous to come out in this society. Let’s take away some of that fear. We’ve always been here, we’ve just had our platform and our rights taken away from us. Self-determination gives us that power back.

 

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lynn t. Musiol, they/them

Theatre-maker and writer based in Berlin.

As soon as I am legally recognised, I am recognised differently in society. At the same time, from an activist’s perspective, there are points in this law that are still inadequate. The legal status of intersex people, for example. Or that people without a residence permit cannot make use of this law. I find this is degrading and it may lead to further resentment. Nonetheless, in terms of my individual recognition as a non-binary person, this law would be a great relief – financially, too – and it is a first step in the right direction.

State recognition is important, but queer and trans life has always been about self-organisation. 

The question remains as to what it means to be labelled “diverse” [the third gender marker recognised by the German civil registry]. Most people who change their entry are white, racialised people often have to really consider whether they want to have “diverse” written in their passport due to discussions with family or at the airport, and experiences of violence. 

In this context, the supplementary ID card [the Ergänzungsausweis, an additional card which displays your chosen name and correct pronouns and is valid in combination with an official form of identification] is great – it’s self-organised, subversive, easily accessible and a great option for many people. State recognition is important, but queer and trans life has always been about self-organisation. 

This feature is taken from the May 2024 issue of GAY TIMES. Head to Apple News + for more exclusive features and interviews from the issue. 

The post Germany just passed a landmark ‘Self Determination’ law – but does it go far enough? appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Iconoclastic performer Bleach invites GAY TIMES to take a sniff at legendary Berlin karaoke club Monster Ronson’s for amyl nitrate-themed extravaganza POPPERS.

WORDS BY SAMUEL BENKE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEE THIELER

Sex, drag, punk and poppers. That’s what Bleach’s shows are all about.

The Essex-raised, Berlin-based drag performer is a central figure in the German capital’s queer underground, organising monthly shows, concerts and karaoke nights. Key among her priorities? Fighting for a Berlin beyond commercialisation and gentrification, and for a nightlife that remains vibrant, queer and accessible to all.

For her show POPPERS, we visited Berlin’s legendary karaoke club Monster Ronson’s – and the spectacle was every bit as daring and subversive as we’ve come to expect from the firmly NSFW drag queen.

On stage, dildos were lubricated and inserted into every orifice. In the background, porn karaoke was played, and a large tray of poppers passed around again and again, which the crowd cheerily sniffed from. This is the spirit of a Berlin that people like Bleach want to protect at all costs.

To mark the occasion, we spoke with the punk queen about her art,  the commercialisation of the underground scene, her struggle with social media and the future of a nightlife scene that’s ever-changing.

What does drag mean to you?

To me, a drag queen is an entertainer, a performer and a person who crosses gender. It’s the girl standing on top of the table having the most fun in the world for herself and everyone around her. I believe that drag starts from the moment you’re in that character until the very end of the night. My drag character Bleach is a full-blown revolutionary, sexiness-obsessed, homoerotic punk rocker! I organise parties, shows, create music and make sure everyone has a fantastic night.

Punk plays a big role in your art and your life in Berlin in general. Where do punk and Berlin intersect for you?

Punk is everywhere. I mean, this city was built on squats. After the Berlin Wall came down, people occupied houses, built clubs and created housing for each other. And this environment of punk and squatting has truly given me the opportunity to do what I do. When I started drag, I did a few drag shows here and there at gay bars, but I loved doing shows in squat bars where people just lived alternative lives. That was inspiring. When you combine that with genderfuckery, it’s even more empowering and magical. I love the punks.

Do you feel like a lot of it is disappearing right now?

100%. I always feel like I’m at the edge of stuff. When I came here, half of the squats had already been closed down. Now I only know the people at “Wagenplatz”. I recently recorded my new single there, in the Fantasticore Studio with all this equipment and all these great people. If I was in London or Stockholm, I wouldn’t have access to that kind of space and experience.

What used to be the “city of squats” is slowly turning into luxury condos for some and a huge housing crisis for everyone else. Squats have been part of the Berlin cityscape since the early 1970s and are the subject of heated debates on the question of “who owns the city?”. In Kreuzberg, where the so-called “Häuserkampf” initially took place, vacant and decaying old buildings were saved from demolition by politically active squatters. It was about securing living space, but also about interfering with the plans of the Senate, which at the time wanted to wipe out entire blocks of flats. Now, most of these places have been violently shut down and all that remains is another building site for a new high-rise and the fading impression that anything was possible here once.

"My goal is to be someone completely wild and naked and screaming, running around the stage with make-up falling off, sweating"

Besides your drag, you make music and organise parties. Tell us about that.

I’m in a band called PUNX N KWEENS – of course, we make punk music. We’ve been around since 2019 and we are a drag show with punks and queens, it’s really in the description for you. We do cheesy covers, play music and organise shows with other punk bands like Eat Lipstick. The song, “I WANNA KISS A DRAG KWEEN,” for example, is about older queer people who inspire you when you’re young and think there’s something wrong with you As a kid, I read all the music magazines. I knew every fucking thing about the Rolling Stones, but it took me so long to discover the first trans rocker, Jayne County, who was working at the same time as Iggy Pop. It took me ten years, trudging through white guys with guitars to finally find these punks. As a band, we try to cover these people that are lost in the history of music.

Your shows are crazy and free. What’s important to you when you go up on that stage?

Rock ‘n’ roll. It may sound cheesy, but that’s how it is. People don’t access it anymore but it’s out there. I’ve had people at shows tell me to calm down. My answer is always: ‘Babe, that’s rock ‘n’ roll’. You’re supposed to be losing your shit. And if you don’t see that, you just have to do it yourself. My goal is to be someone completely wild and naked and screaming, running around the stage with make-up falling off, sweating; when I don’t see that anywhere, I have to be it. The most magical thing is, once you start being it, you realise that it is all around you. There are so many people doing amazing stuff and they’re right next to me.

You are part of the Berlin underground drag scene, which is becoming increasingly smaller. What is your perspective on what’s happening there?

When I came here, I used to go to drag shows and they had no adverts, nowhere, no logos on the bar, on the glasses. Now there are brands everywhere, you pay by card, you stand in a proper queue. I think this process is going on subliminally and unnoticed. Half of my friends are now performing for big brands because they have to pay their rent, of course. That’s the crazy thing. You didn’t have to work so hard before to be able to afford to live here. These big companies pay for logos, but they don’t understand what drag really stands for: the rejection of the status quo, the genderfuckery, the entertainment.

I’m not stupid. I know that I, too, benefit from RuPaul bringing drag to television. I know that drag queens used to be in the back corners of bars, they used to be hidden. But simultaneously, I know that those drag queens in the back of the bar are still doing the best drag out there. Like Juwelia or Anita Drink, who in my mind are my adopted drag moms. You enter their universe and think to yourself, ‘Who is this crazy bitch screaming into a microphone for four hours? She is out of this world. She doesn’t make any sense. I can’t comprehend her’. That’s perfect. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

"I remember the first time I went to Cocktail d'Amore and was overwhelmed by seeing so many gay people in one place. Now, unfortunately, everything looks and feels a bit like London."

"These big companies pay for logos, but they don't understand what drag really stands for: the rejection of the status quo, the genderfuckery, the entertainment."

But then again you also use social media to make your work known. How does that fit together?

Instagram was the first place I showed my ass. I am a nudist. I use my persona online to inflate my ego. I created a character called Babychino, a naked nymphomaniac from heaven who gives me the courage to do anything in real life. So, I understand that showing yourself on the internet and getting validation through Likes is powerful. I portray myself as the rock star I want to be. It’s kind of an extended version of what everyone is doing, but it’s exaggerated through drag. At the same time, I hate it too. It’s a disgusting place. Advertising has taken over, everything political is censored, and you can’t share anything important anymore. So now I’m trying to make real contacts again through newsletters, merchandise and postcards. Those actual transactions of holding a T-shirt, getting a sticker, taking a picture and saving the flyer are what matters most.

Through the years, you have become a staple of Berlin nightlife. At the same time, independent raves are becoming less common and clubs are closing down. What’s your insider perspective on this?

I love nightlife. Clubs are empowering, special places. I remember the first time I went to Cocktail d’Amore and was overwhelmed by seeing so many gay people in one place. Now, unfortunately, everything looks and feels a bit like London. I understand that this can also be seen as a kind of progress, but you lose this completely liberated space of people taking ketamine in an old wheat silo, dancing freely, meeting people and creating something new. You lose the underground nature, this kind of shared spirit.

Now, it’s often just expensive, it’s commercialised, people are on their phones, they stand on the podium and don’t dance; they have no idea what’s so special about these places. Not far from here, the new Amazon tower rises up into the air, while people wash themselves in puddles next to it. I don’t know what’s next, but I’ll always complain about rich assholes funding wars. I’ll keep doing my shows. And if you want to see the real Berlin and keep the real Berlin, come to a fucking show, buy a shirt, get involved, or we’ll come and burn your tower down. It’s that simple.

Here she is talking about the Amazon Tower. The tallest building in Berlin stands at 140 meters high on the border between the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. Its construction was accompanied by countless protests from people living in the adjoining districts, activist groups and even some city officials because the huge structure hardly has any space for public use – and because the tower’s tenant could accelerate displacement in the already gentrified neighbourhood.

"Instagram was the first place I showed my ass. I am a nudist."

So, what does the future look like for you?

We have to occupy everything. We’re on the brink of destroying this planet, we have to stop that somehow. I see a future that’s peaceful, that’s decentralised, that deals with the responsibility of what we’ve done and what we’re doing now, by selling guns and supporting violence all over this world. I believe that by dreaming big we can take back this city and the rest of the world. Back to a connected community of people learning how to farm, because damn, does anybody actually know how to grow food around here?

Sounds great, any last words for us?

I grew up in Essex, England. A place where people shouted abuse at me because I had yellow hair. Maybe I can put it like this: I used to have a very clear idea of what a vegetarian was like, what they looked like, what they felt like. And then one day I thought, “Oh, I’m going to be a vegetarian.” And I didn’t even feel or look any different. I was just myself, the same, just a vegetarian. Then at some point I thought, “What’s it like to put a lady’s thong on?” And then you do it and think to yourself, “I’m the same person.” If you interact with everything without this judgmental sense, you quickly realise how much freer you become. The kid who thought vegetarians were hippies back then is now a non-binary drag queen. It’s fun to try things out, everyone should. So just stick some lipstick on your face and go to the club.

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