German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under fire from left-wing parties after rejecting calls to fly the rainbow flag over the Bundestag for Christopher Street Day on July 26.
In an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Tuesday, Merz backed Bundestag President Julia Klöckner’s earlier decision to deny the request. “The Bundestag is not a circus tent where any flag could be hoisted,” Merz said. He added that the rainbow flag should only be displayed on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia. “On all other days, only the German and European flags are flown—and that is the correct decision.”
His remarks triggered outrage from opposition lawmakers. Sophie Koch, the government’s LGBT commissioner and a Social Democrat MP, accused Merz of implying the LGBT community were being treated like “circus animals.”
Green Party leader Katharina Dröge said the rainbow flag “represents a group that is increasingly affected by hostility, violence and hatred” and deserves a place in parliament. Green MPs staged a silent protest in the Bundestag chamber by wearing clothing in rainbow colours.
In past years, the Bundestag has raised the flag during Pride events, and previous chancellors have taken part in Christopher Street Day celebrations—a German tradition rooted in the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York.
