Wowereit: 25 years after coming-out, he says 'we were already further'

Klaus Wowereit became famous 25 years ago with one sentence. He said: 'Ich bin schwul, und das ist auch gut so.' That means: 'I am gay, and that is good too.'

The former mayor of Berlin is now 72 years old. He looks back proudly on his coming-out. He says this in a new interview.

Wowereit was one of the first major politicians in Germany in 2001. He came out publicly. That was very special and brave then.

But Wowereit is also worried. He sees society moving backwards. There was more acceptance for LGBTQ+ people before, he thinks. Now it sometimes goes the wrong direction.

He says gay rights are not self-evident. You must always fight for them. The freedoms people have gained can disappear again.

Wowereit sees more hate crimes against gay men and lesbians. Even in politics, LGBTQ+ people seem less welcome. That concerns him.

Yet he still believes in progress. Young people are often more open and free. That gives hope for the future.

His famous sentence from 2001 still sounds powerful. For many LGBTQ+ people in Germany it is a symbol of pride and courage. Wowereit is glad he took that step.

He calls on other people to be themselves. A coming-out can be difficult. But it can also be liberating. He hopes everyone can live freely, regardless of who they love.

The interview with Wowereit shows: the fight for equality is not over. We must stay vigilant. Rights we have won must be protected.