KLAUS
WOWEREIT
Berlin’s
Gay Mayor
by Tim Pinckney
The new catch phrase for Germany’s capital city is
“Berlin, Berlin, wir fahren nach Berlin,” which
translates into “Berlin, Berlin, we’re going
to Berlin.” Clearly the hope is that everyone planning
a European expedition will enthusiastically chant the
eager new motto for this enigmatic city. It’s a safe
bet. With its pulsating energy, extraordinary history,
and its unending devotion to all things artistic, Berlin
should be on every European traveler’s radar as a
destination not to be missed. This dynamic city has an
equally dynamic leader in Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit.
Native born and bred, this warm and vibrant man is in
his second term, having been first elected in 2001 and
enthusiastically re-elected in 2006. It is noteworthy
to mention that before his first campaign began, Wowereit
proudly stepped up and informed the people of Berlin,
“ich bin schwul und das ist auch gut so—I am
gay and that is a good thing.”
As it turns out, it is a wonderful thing
for the city of Berlin. Certainly the LGBT population
of any city that suddenly finds itself with a gay mayor
would see cause for celebration. Wowereit is quick to
point out that “my policies are intended to serve
all of the people of Berlin. I am here for everyone.
At the same time, of course, I do have opportunities
to help minorities, including gays and lesbians. The
fact that the head of the government of a metropolis
like Berlin is gay is quite important to the LGBT community
in Germany, and apparently internationally as well.”
For a city like Berlin to have as its mayor an out gay
man, it would seem that certain responsibilities to
his community would logically be implied by that visibility.
The Mayor states, “I wouldn’t necessarily
refer to ‘responsibilities’ in this regard,
since most of the LGBT community’s concerns are
concerns I share on a personal level. That community,
of course, expects me to be especially active in responding
to homophobia. For instance, I have been very clear
in my statements about the ban on pride parades in Eastern
European cities like Moscow and Warsaw. Berlin is an
open and tolerant city, and I’d like to see the
same climate elsewhere, too.”
When Wowereit welcomed an international
gay sadomasochist fetish party to his city in 2005,
the distributed program for the event included a letter
from the mayor stating, “Berlin is a tolerant and
open metropolis. We are proud that people from different
backgrounds and with different preferences feel comfortable
here and party together.” Not surprisingly, conservatives
did not embrace this warm mayoral reception and the
Mayor’s judgment was called into question. Wowereit
stood firm, stating, “There’s no question
it is a flamboyant scene, but that is also Berlin…and
as long as there is nothing forbidden happening, I expect
tolerance.”
Wowereit effortlessly personifies the
hip, sophisticated, and tolerant image that pervades
the city of Berlin. He has been actively involved and
instrumental in raising the international profile of
Berlin, tirelessly promoting culture and tourism. Although
the city still faces high unemployment figures and mountains
of debt, residents praise Wowereit for creating and
encouraging the welcoming atmosphere in the city. “Berlin
is an open and tolerant place, and I cultivate this
atmosphere, not only because I want Berlin to be this
way, but because our city benefits enormously from it.
We have economic problems, and we need more jobs. The
fact that Berlin is a magnet, especially for young people
from all over the world who end up making their visions
a reality here, has given us new, creative economic
sectors like music, design, fashion, architecture, and
art.”
Berlin, which will celebrate 20 years
of reunification in 2009, continues to develop and change.
Housing is affordable, creativity is celebrated and
encouraged, and it seems to be the ideal place to start
a business. Wowereit says on his website (http://www.klaus-wowereit.de/international),
“We are going to roll out the red carpet for those
firms which move to Berlin. We have commercial properties
at attractive prices to meet every need. For the smallest
businesses and for the self-employed the local authorities
will make subsidies available.” Tourism also continues
to prosper. In fact, with the exceptions of London and
Paris, Berlin currently draws more visitors annually
than any other European city.
Wowereit was born and raised here, in
an area on the southern outskirts of West Berlin. He
states, “As you know, Berlin was a divided city
back then. I studied law and had an early interest in
politics. I was very impressed by Willy Brandt, the
former Governing Mayor of Berlin, German Foreign Minister
and Chancellor, and the head of my party, the Social
Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), and I joined the
SPD. Becoming a member of the borough council in the
borough I lived in was the beginning of my political
career. Later, I was elected to Berlin’s state
parliament. When the coalition government made up of
my party and the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU)
collapsed, I became the SPD candidate for the office
of Governing Mayor of Berlin.”
 Much
of Wowereit’s success can be attributed to his
obvious devotion to the people of Berlin. “I see
myself as a politician from the left, but it has always
been important to me to work for pragmatic goals aimed
at really helping people, rather than building castles
in the air.“
Now comfortably into his second term,
Wowereit says, “I’m more experienced this
time around, and I’m no longer surprised to hear
myself being addressed as ‘Governing Mayor,’
the way I was at the very beginning,” he says with
a smile. Although Paris also has a gay mayor, an out
and vocal elected official would most likely be a larger
issue in other countries—including the U.S. “My
being gay is not especially emphasized in meetings with
hosts, stakeholders, or ordinary citizens. However,
there are still a few incorrigibles out there who express
their homophobia in hate mail, for instance. I use legal
means to respond wherever possible.”
Continued
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