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Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - Corona makes work more difficult, but the Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) Baden-Württemberg is increasing its commitment to rainbow families - i.e. gay fathers or lesbian mothers and their children.
In the fall, two 40 percent workers started in a counseling center, said LSVD board member Kerstin Fritzsche of the German press agency in Stuttgart.
So far, however, there are no rooms for the center or a website.
There are many rainbow families in Baden-Württemberg, said Fritzsche - without being able to name an exact number.
In the work of the regional association, they are a special focus, also because lesbian mothers who wanted to have children started networking 25 years ago.
Since late summer, questions on the subject have been increasing again, as Fritzsche said.
The need for advice is also there in Corona times.
"People still want children."
One reason could have been the debate about planned legal changes in the summer.
On the initiative of Baden-Württemberg, the Federal Council rejected the new rules on adoptions because lesbian mothers would have been obliged to consult beforehand.
The Federal Ministry of Justice later published plans to equate lesbian couples with childbirth.
The mother of a child would then no longer only be the woman who gave birth to it, but also a woman who is married to her or who has recognized motherhood.
An adoption process would then no longer be necessary.
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"In the population it is slowly dawning on one or the other that there is not yet complete equality," said Fritzsche.
This applies in particular to family policy. The right of parentage is not the same as marriage law.
"Lesbian mothers have to undress twice or three times before the state."
Caring for the groups - as well as other members - was difficult for the LSVD in the pandemic year, said Fritzsche.
Many would have isolated themselves first in order to organize themselves and solve acute problems.
The digital also does not replace direct contact - “that one sees the needs and conditions on site”.
In addition, the pandemic has once again made problems clear, for example that the LSVD work is very Stuttgart-focused, said Fritzsche.
Traditional political parades for Christopher Street Day (CSD) have failed.
When it comes to alternative events on the internet, it was mostly the community itself who watched.
“Of course, it doesn't have the same visibility as events in the city center, very clichéd with partying, bare skin, lacquer and leather,” says Fritzsche.
"Quieter topics had it even more difficult to be heard in the pandemic."
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Fritzsche cited the discussion about homophobic politics in Poland and town twinning as a further example.
In view of hostility against sexual minorities in the neighboring country, activists petitioned, for example, to end the partnerships between Stuttgart and Lodz.
There was resentment to anger because, for example, the scene had renounced its colorful parades because of the protection against infection - but at the same time demonstrated "lateral thinkers", said Fritzsche.
For the community of homosexual, bisexual, trans and intersex people, transgender and queer people, it was important that something happened at all.
Even if the preparation sometimes takes more time and the desire for video switching fades with increasing duration.
"It's different whether you meet at the regulars' table and can still exchange informally afterwards."
Association members have technically upgraded and probably one or the other form of organization and participation in the network will continue to exist after Corona, said Fritzsche.
"Under all the circumstances, it was a successful year for the LSVD."
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LSVD over rainbow families
LSVD on averted changes in adoption law
LSVD position paper "Rainbow families in law"