Internet recommendation for homosexuals triggers heated discussion: Is the Wiesn anti-gay?

Created: 2022-06-09 06:59

By: Julian Limmer

The Oktoberfest in Munich.

© Tobias Hase/dpa

The recommendation for homosexuals to “be cautious” at the Oktoberfest is circulating on the Internet.

The website thus triggers a heated discussion about the Wiesn.

Munich - Do homosexual couples have to be more careful at the Wiesn than heterosexuals?

At least one entry on the website oktoberfestportal.de advises this.

It recommends that homosexual Oktoberfest-goers “be a bit reserved” (see box below).

• Is flirting forbidden for gays at the Wiesn?

  
  

  No, it's not that bad.

  However, as a gay or lesbian couple at the Oktoberfest, you have to be a bit reserved.

  Not all Wiesn visitors have understanding for an open gay or lesbian lifestyle.

  So just keep your eyes and ears open to see if you're something to talk about.

  In any case, the beer tent is not the right place to explain terms like “tolerance” and “equality” to people.

The controversial entry has existed for several years – but now it has again caused a lot of criticism on the Internet.

Probably because the Oktoberfest is taking place again this year, even if it is still unclear whether there will be corona regulations at the Wiesn.

Oktoberfest: Great irritation after the recommendation to "restraint"

Wiesn city councilor Anja Berger (Greens) is also upset: "I think the tips are completely wrong and hostile to the LGBTQ community," she says.

In addition, she sees the whole Oktoberfest as a disparagement: "I have always experienced the Oktoberfest as very tolerant." No one has to hide their sexuality at the festival.

Berger is particularly bothered by the fact that the portal appears to be an official Wiesn portal for the city.

The website is operated privately.

She now wants to check what options there are for deleting the entry.

The entry was also rejected by some prominent Munich residents from the gay community: "If such tips only exist for gays and lesbians, then I find that discriminatory," says Dietmar Holzapfel, the manager of the Hotel Deutsche Eiche.

He himself has always felt safe at the Wiesn.

Video: Oktoberfest 2022 in Munich - Oktoberfest without any corona rules?

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Is the Wiesn anti-gay?

Website operators speak out

The operators of oktoberfestportal.de can only understand the fuss about the entry to a limited extent and refer to the author.

It is about the gay journalist and activist Bernd Müller from Munich.

In the meantime, he would formulate the text more carefully, he says, but he sticks to it: "You can't rely on the tolerance of the visitors at the Wiesn!" Especially when alcohol is involved, the inhibition threshold for attacks decreases.

SPD city councilor Christian Vorländer, who himself is openly gay, sees the problem.

However, he also finds the tips misleading: "I appreciate the author very much, but I don't want to hide myself at the Oktoberfest because of my sexuality." Instead of calling on vulnerable groups to exercise restraint, it is better to focus on prevention.

In this he agrees with Anja Berger: You are already thinking about Oktoberfest campaigns to better protect homosexuals.