The controversy grew to the point where the Germans now call it the “Rainbowgate” (for rainbow, “Rainbow”, the symbolic colors of the lesbian, gay, bi and trans, LGBT community). UEFA on Tuesday rejected the city of Munich’s request to light up its compound in LGBT colors in protest against Hungary’s policy on sexual minorities. With this decision, the European body unleashed criticism and sparked a movement of solidarity.
Germany thus appears rainbow colors on Wednesday against the “Bad signal” sent by UEFA, according to the German government. Many emblematic sites of the Bavarian capital, including an imposing wind turbine visible from the Allianz Arena, where the first round of Euro Germany-Hungary will take place in the evening, were to be decorated in the colors of the community during the day. LGBT. Several Bundesliga stadiums will be illuminated in the same way in the evening, from Frankfurt to Cologne, via Wolfsburg, Augsburg and the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
German dailies, such as Süddeutsche Zeitung, followed Wednesday the movement with colored “headlines”. The heavyweights of the Bavarian economy, such as Siemens and BMW, have also draped themselves in rainbow colors on Twitter. The Deutsche Bahn railway company did the same with one of its locomotives also sporting a slogan promoting diversity.
UEFA assured, Tuesday, fully share the values of tolerance promoted by this initiative, but as“Politically and religiously neutral organization”, it refuses to convey a message aimed specifically at a country or a government. Faced with growing controversy, she nevertheless tried to procrastinate on Wednesday, again defending her refusal to let the Munich stadium light up in the colors of the LGBT community, but adorning her own logo on Twitter with a rainbow. heaven reaffirming his “Firm commitment” against homophobia.
UEFA’s decision was welcomed on Tuesday by the Hungarian government of Viktor Orban. “Thank goodness the leaders of European football have shown common sense (…) by not participating in what would have been a political provocation against Hungary ”, welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjarto.
A political decision
But it caused consternation in Germany and France, in particular. “We deeply regret UEFA’s decision to ban the Munich stadium from being lit in LGBTQI colors”, and we have “A form of incomprehension because it is a religiously neutral and apolitical body, but which has values”, reacted the Elysee, Wednesday, by the voice of an adviser of the presidency. “UEFA has got its feet in the carpet a bit because in fact its decision to refuse is also a political decision”, had already deplored Clément Beaune, French Secretary of State for European Affairs.
“I find it shameful that UEFA forbids us here in Munich to send a signal for cosmopolitanism, tolerance, respect and solidarity with people from the LGBT community”, had denounced the day before the social democratic mayor of the city, Dieter Reiter. “It’s true, the football field has nothing to do with politics. It’s about people, fairness, tolerance. This is why UEFA is sending the wrong signal ”, added Wednesday morning the head of German diplomacy, Heiko Maas. “But fortunately, you can still display your colors today – inside and outside the stadium”, encouraged the minister of the government of Angela Merkel. The German public television channel ARD spoke about a “Own goal” marked by UEFA.
Response from Hungarian clubs and fear of tensions with ultras
In response to the “Rainbowgate”, several Hungarian football clubs will for their part light up their stadium in the colors of the national flag during the match. Gabor Kubatov, the chairman of Hungary’s biggest club Ferencvaros, called for “Color all the stages in red-white-green”, in a message posted Tuesday on Facebook. According to this official, who also holds the vice-presidency of Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, the idea responds to a request from their ultra supporters in the face of ” Provocation “ from Munich.
Other clubs participating in this initiative include MTK Budapest FC and Debrecen in the east of the country, both linked to Fidesz politicians. One of the musical annexes of the Budapest State Opera will also be illuminated. Before the match, the organizers of the Munich Pride March, associated with Amnesty International, for their part plan to distribute 11,000 rainbow flags to spectators (only 14,000 seats will be occupied, due to restrictions due to Covid -19).
The atmosphere could be tense with Hungarian fans. The Carpathian Brigade, a group of ultra nationalists recognizable by their black T-shirts, plans to disembark ” by thousands “ in Munich, according to his Facebook page. A time announced by German media, Mr. Orban himself should not, for his part, attend the match in Munich.
The “Rainbowgate” was born from the adoption last week, by the Hungarian Parliament, of a law prohibiting the “Promotion” homosexuality among minors, a few hours before the kickoff of the first Euro match in Budapest, between Hungary and Portugal.
A “shameful” law
The law, initiated by the sovereignist party of Mr. Orban, provides that “Pornography and content that depicts sexuality or promotes gender identity deviation, sex reassignment and homosexuality should not be accessible to those under the age of 18”.
A declaration, supported at present by fifteen Member States, called on the Commission to act after the adoption of this text, on June 15, in Budapest. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday called ” shame “ this law. Brussels will send a letter to Budapest expressing its “Concerns” legally before its entry into force.
Viktor Orban, who promised the establishment of a ” new era “ cultural illiberal culture, over the years has toughened legislation against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.