Flag dispute between two federal ministries: The so-called Progress rainbow flag has been waving in front of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs since the anniversary of “Christopher Street Day” on June 28 – although the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), which is responsible for flags on federal buildings, had previously pointed out in writing that there was no approval gives for it.
On Tuesday, both ministries confirmed a corresponding report from “Achtung, Reichelt!”, the YouTube channel of the former “Bild” editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt.
The progress rainbow flag contains additional stripes in several colors applied in a triangular shape and an additional dot. It should also stand for the interests of transsexuals and intersexuals, blacks and people of color, who can also be affected by racism.
Critics complain that the Progress flag is also widespread among supporters of identity politics – a worldview in which people are differentiated according to characteristics such as sexuality, gender, skin color or ethnicity in order to derive political demands and rights from them.
In a letter dated April 6 to ministries, the Bundestag and Bundesrat, among others, the Federal Ministry of the Interior approved the hoisting of the traditional rainbow flag on federal buildings. The rainbow flag also flew for the first time on the Reichstag building.
On June 13, the SPD-led ministry then sent another letter to the Green-led Family Ministry. According to the BMI, it was pointed out “that the hoisting of further logo flags is not covered by the BMI letter of April 6, 2022 and cannot otherwise be approved”.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Family Affairs said on the question of why this flag was hoisted instead of the rainbow flag: “As the Ministry of Equal Opportunities, we are proud to hoist the Progress rainbow flag this year to show a special solidarity with all trans and inter people. The house thus expresses unequivocally that it stands up for all queer people.” According to the information, the flag should continue to fly in front of the ministry until July 29th.
The Ministry of the Interior said that displaying flags that were not in accordance with the federal government’s decree on flags was illegal. However, violations have no legal consequences. It is generally expected that all departments will adhere to the regulations laid down in the flag decree.