German Soccer Fans Rally After The Murder Of A Trans Man
September 20, 2022After a violent attack at a Münster Pride event, the football community is adding their voice to the calls for action against homophobic and transphobic hate crimes in western Germany, Out Sports write.
With Pride flags, supporters groups and ultras of the Bundesliga team SV Werder Bremen – reportedly among them Caillera, Infamous Youth, and Endeavour 3000 – held up tifos, during Friday’s match against FC Augsburg with messages including "Queerfeindlichkeit tötet!" [“Queerphobia kills!”], "Gegen jede Transfeindlichkeit!" ["Against all transphobia!"], and "Rest in peace Malte."
Malte C., a 25-year-old trans man who police say was attacked at Münster’s Christopher Street Day celebrations.
According to Deutsche Welle, Malte had intervened when a group of women were being threatened and verbally attacked by a man at the Pride event. Malte was then repeatedly struck by the attacker and, six days later, died of his injuries. A suspect has been detained.
Just days after Malte’s death made national news, another violent attack was reported in Bremen. A 57-year-old trans woman was assaulted on a tram.
The Bremen fans’ stand against hate crimes are just one of the recent examples of supporters groups working against the normalization of this kind of discrimination, but taking steps to make their communities more inclusive.
In the US, North Carolina soccer supporters groups such as The Uproar were swift and unequivocal in their rejection of their team’s decision to sign Jaelene Daniels, infamous for her anti-gay statements and rejection of rainbow-colored Pride jerseys.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Australian Football Club Condemns Fans For “Unacceptable” Homophobic Behavior
Trans Football Star Kumi Yokoyama Discusses Coming Out Journey: “I’m Glad I Did It”
Shipham Football Team Abandons Match After Homophobic Insult
Trans Players Would Be Welcome In Women’s Football, Says Former England Striker
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