Germany is tolerant of LGBT people, but not Muslims
Germany is becoming more accepting of LGBT people (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty)
The majority of Germans are accepting of LGBT+ people—but not Muslims, a survey has suggested.
A poll of 1,000 people, published by Playboy Germany, found 70 percent would not care if their child was gay.
The same number said they would support a law requiring insurance companies to pay for sexual reassignment surgery for transgender people.
The study also found the majority of Germans are tolerant of nudity and sexuality in the media.
Although Germany is more tolerant of LGBT people, the survey found people were less accepting of Muslim neighbours.
The poll, carried out by the research institute Mafo.de, found 55.7 percent of respondents said they would not want a mosque near their home.
Germany approved same-sex marriage last year (Getty/iStock)
More than 70 percent said they thought it was a good idea to ban teachers and workers in the public sector from wearing the hijab.
Of those surveyed, 16 percent said they would not want a Christian church in their neighbourhood, 25 percent said the same for Jewish synagogues and Buddhist temples.
According to government figures published earlier this year, there were 950 attacks reportedly on Muslims and mosques in Germany in 2017, amid growing Islamophobia.
Recent years have seen the country become more accepting of LGBT+ people, however.
In 2013, Germany became the first European country to introduce the option for parents to select a blank option on birth forms, rather than male or female.
This week, the German government approved plans to introduce a third gender on official forms.
Last November, the highest court in the country ruled in favour of an intersex person and ordered the parliament to legally recognise a third gender from birth or remove gender from documents.
Trans activists hold up rainbow balloons in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin (Britta Pedersen/AFP/Getty)
The landmark move, which will replace the blank choice with an option called “diverse,” still needs parliamentary approval.
Last year, German MPs voted by a clear majority to legalise same-sex marriage.
Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her Christian Democratic Union party a free vote in the proposal put forward by the Social Democrats – though Mrs Merkel herself voted against the legislation.
In the past, Merkel admitted to having a “hard time” with the issue.
She recently revealed that meeting a lesbian couple who had eight foster children together changed her mind on whether or not a free vote should be allowed on the matter.
“After years of waiting and hoping, rainbow families in Germany will now receive equal recognition under the law,” said ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis.
“This is a historic milestone that can inspire even more change for LGBTI people.”
