Press release from Queermed Germany
- Samson Grzybek
- Köln
For democracy, against fascism – for non-discriminatory healthcare
In light of current political developments, we at Queermed Germany feel it is our responsibility to take a clear stance: we stand firmly for democracy, against fascism and for a humane asylum policy.
Our work focuses on combating discrimination in healthcare – an area in which marginalised groups are particularly vulnerable. People who already experience discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, origin or residence status are particularly affected by political measures that restrict fundamental rights. This repeatedly affects queer and trans* people as well as people with a refugee background, whose access to healthcare is often made extremely difficult.
The recent calls for stricter asylum laws, as put forward by the Union faction, are alarming. In a joint statement, the Evangelical Church in Germany and the German Bishops’ Conference emphasise that the proposed legislative changes would not have prevented any of the attacks that have prompted the current debate.
Together with many other civil society organisations, we demand that asylum procedures are not further outsourced and that Germany fulfils its human rights obligation to guarantee protection and medical care for refugees.
Historical responsibility: Remembering the lessons of the past
As the country where the Shoah took place, Germany bears a special historical responsibility. The systematic persecution, murder and disenfranchisement of Jews, Roma and Sinti, people with disabilities, queer people and many other marginalised groups under the Nazi regime is an indisputable reminder of where fascism leads. The crimes of National Socialism were made possible not only by open violence, but also by a gradual erosion of human rights and the social acceptance of discriminatory laws.
After 1945, Germany built a democracy in the Federal Republic based on the universal validity of human rights. But this responsibility does not end with words or commemorative events – it must be reflected in political action. Those who today dismantle asylum rights, who portray flight as a threat rather than a humanitarian challenge, who weaken democratic structures and introduce right-wing narratives into political discourse, endanger not only individual human lives, but also the fundamental principles on which the Federal Republic was built.
Never again should people be disenfranchised because of their origin, identity or affiliation – neither in healthcare nor in society as a whole.
Health is a human right
Health is a human right – and this right must not be further restricted by political decisions. The existing barriers in the healthcare system are already hitting many marginalised groups hard. Plans to restrict the right to asylum will only exacerbate these injustices by pushing those seeking protection even further into unsafe, often life-threatening situations.
The massive protests in Germany against right-wing extremism and for democracy show that there are many of us who are committed to an open and just society.
As Queermed Germany, we will continue to raise our voices against all forms of discrimination in healthcare and against right-wing extremist efforts. We demand policies that protect human rights instead of dismantling them.
‘Let us fight together for a society in which health, protection and dignity are guaranteed for all – and in which “never again” is not just a promise, but a lived reality.’
‘Let us fight together for a society in which health, protection and dignity are guaranteed for all – and in which “Never again” is not just a promise, but a living reality.’
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