In Germany, everyone has the right to decide for themselves …
- whether, when, how often and whom they want to be sexually intimate with.
- whether and whom they want to marry.
- whether they want to have children.
In Germany, individuals are not persecuted or punished for their gender or sexual orientation.
It is forbidden by law to discriminate homosexual, transsexual or intersexual people. Same-sex relationships are legal: A man may love a man and have him as a partner. A woman may love a woman and have her as a partner. Same-sex couples can, if they want to, enter a registered partnership. This registered partnership is not the same as the marriage between a man and a woman, as it has some legal drawbacks.
If you are a man attracted to men or if you are a woman attracted to women …
- you should not be verbally or physically attacked as a result. Please contact a counselling centre or an Aidshilfe (AIDS-support-organisation) for support if you become the victim of an abuse.
- and were persecuted in your home country, this might be a reason for asylum. Helpful information in various languages: www.queer-refugees.de
- you can find counselling centres, meeting sites and events in many cities.
Your local Aidshilfe (AIDS-support-organisation) will be pleased to help you.
