🏳️‍🌈 In this podcast episode, Flo, Phenix and their guest Niki Trauthwein discuss the history and significance of the Transsexuals Act (TSG), shed light on the problematic Paragraph 175 and highlight the ongoing discrimination against trans people. They emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in order to create a fair, equal and respectful society.

In conversation: Detlef Mücke and Niki Trauthwein

Queer Story is a production of BosePark Productions from Berlin. We have also translated this podcast into other languages with the help of artificial intelligence so that you can listen to it in your native language.

🇹🇷 Queer Story in turkish - Queer Hikayesi - link to Spotify 🏳️‍🌈

🇷🇺 Queer Story in russian - История “Квир” - link to Spotify 🏳️‍🌈

🇩🇪 Queer Story in german - queer story - link to Spotify 🏳️‍🌈

🪩 Chapter

00:00:04 Introduction to Queer Story podcast

00:01:08 Laws, rights and obligations for queer people in Germany

00:03:39 History of Paragraph 175 criminalizing homosexuality

00:07:13 1969 reform partially decriminalizing homosexuality

00:11:49 Detlef Mücke on living as a gay man in Germany

00:15:58 Final abolishment of Paragraph 175 in 1994

00:16:18 Gender diverse option on German ID cards

00:16:34 Issues with the German Transsexuals Act

00:19:55 History and impact of the Transsexuals Act

00:29:43 Criticism of the Transsexuals Act then and now

00:30:18 Adoption rights for queer couples in Germany

00:32:23 Challenges of stepchild adoption for same-sex couples

00:33:59 Need for further legal changes and queer solidarity

📔 Summary of this episode

In this episode, Flo and Phenix tackle a sensitive and important topic: the Transsexuals Act (TSG) and its historical development, with Paragraph 175 playing a crucial role. Originally passed in 1981, the TSG offered trans people the opportunity to change their legal identity. Nevertheless, over the years it has been accompanied by numerous restrictions that have placed a massive burden on trans people. Together with lawyer and expert Niki Trauthwein, the two hosts discuss the history of the TSG, the problematic Paragraph 175 and the urgently needed reforms.

Paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code, which was in force until 1994, criminalized sexual acts between men and left deep scars in the LGBTQ+ community even after its abolition. In the discussion, Flo and Phenix examine how this paragraph was embedded in the legal framework of the TSG and reinforced discrimination. For trans men in particular, Paragraph 175 created additional hurdles as their sexual orientation and identity were suppressed and criminalized.

In the interview, Trauthwein goes into detail about the origins and effects of Paragraph 175. While the TSG was seen as progress, those affected often continued to be discriminated against and stigmatized. In particular, the practice of having their personal identity assessed by experts and authorities led to humiliation. Many trans people had to undergo invasive examinations and humiliating procedures to legitimize their identity.

The episode is dedicated to the question of what modern legislation should look like in order to protect trans people from discrimination and stigmatization.

🎙️About

Queer Story is a production of BosePark Productions from Berlin. This podcast was translated with the help of artificial intelligence so that you can listen to the episode in your native language. We originally recorded it in 2021, then only in German. We really wanted to try out the possibility of speaking with our voices in your language. So bear with us if we still have an awkward way of speaking sometimes. We are very interested to hear what you think. If you have any comments or questions, please write to us at [email protected] 

🏳️‍🌈BosePark Productions GmbH 2024 

www.bosepark.com