Germany gets its first out lesbian cabinet minister
In low key fashion, Germany’s new Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks came out this week in a newspaper interview – making her the country’s first openly lesbian cabinet member.
Ms Hendricks, a member of the Social Democrats for 20 years, mentioned in an interview with the Rheinische Post that she would “be spending New Year’s Eve with her life partner”.
A practicing Catholic, the 62-year-old has been in the Bundestag, Germany’s Parliament, for 19 years.
As well as being the first openly gay female cabinet minister, she is the first in the new “grand coalition”, led by third term Chancellor Angela Merkel.
A February 2013 poll found 74% of the German people supported same-sex marriage.
Former foreign minister Guido Westerwelle became Germany’s first openly gay cabinet minister in October 2009.
He resigned as foreign affairs minister last month and also left the Bundestag, having been elected in 1996.
MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.
Report this comment
Please let us know why you would like to report this comment:
The ability to comment will be removed from anyone who does not follow our Terms & Conditions