First Trans MPs Elected In Germany
September 28, 2021Two transgender MPs were elected to the Bundestag in this weekend’s federal elections in Germany, in a historic first for the country.
According to figures released by election officials on 27 September, the SPD narrowly beat out the CDU/CDU with 25.9% to 24.1% of the vote, respectively.
The Greens won the third-largest proportion of the vote with 14.6%, followed by the FDP at 11.5%.
Tessa Ganserer and Nyke Slawik were both elected as MPs for the Greens.
According to the website Politics.co.uk, Ganserer, 44, who has been a member of parliament for Nuremberg North since 2013, came out as trans in 2019, becoming the first-ever public transgender person to sit in a German regional or national parliament, with this being her first election since the announcement.
“It is a historic victory for the Greens, but also for the trans-emancipatory movement and for the entire queer community,” Ganserer told Reuters, adding that the results signify Germany becoming a more accepting country.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the trust shown by the voters,” she wrote on Twitter. “I’m still overwhelmed, but I’m really looking forward to my new job in Berlin! My congratulations too @nyke_slawik!”
Nyke Slawik will be serving her first term as MP for the Leverkusen, Cologne IV constituency. She unsuccessfully ran for parliament in 2017, and the European parliament in 2019.
“Insanity! I still can’t quite believe it, but with this historic election result I will definitely be a member of the next Bundestag,” the 27-year-old wrote on Twitter.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who supported me and who voted GREEN today.”
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