Rainbow flag flies all year round in front of the Cologne Office for the Protection of the Constitution – Why?

Rainbow flag flies all year round in front of the Cologne Office for the Protection of the Constitution – Why?

Today, June 29, 2025, an exciting debate is taking place about the flagging of federal buildings in Germany, especially regarding the iconic rainbow flag. According to that Germany courier This blows in front of the Cologne Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution all year round. This is unusual because the federal government's decree stipulates that the flag may only be flown on special occasions, such as Christopher Street Day, which was celebrated yesterday, and the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, Transphobia and Asexualism in May.

Former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) plays a key role in this issue. She gave the then President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang (CDU), the instruction to fly the flag all year round. This creates a lot of discussion among the ministries, like this n-tv reported.

Inconsistent regulations between ministries

Two ministries are divided on this matter: While the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) emphasizes that only the traditional rainbow flag is affected by the decree, the Family Ministry has placed the Progress rainbow flag, which represents the concerns of trans and interpersonal people, in front of its ministry since June 28th. It has to be said that the Progress flag is a sign of solidarity, but plays a minor role in the current discussion. Partly confusing is the fact that the BMI also pointed out that flying unauthorized flags was illegal, but at the same time did not threaten any consequences for these actions.

The rainbow flag itself, a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community, is made up of six colors that carry meaningful messages: pink for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunshine, green for nature and blue for harmony. This flag was designed by artist Gilbert Baker in San Francisco in 1978 and is intended to promote pride and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ movement, such as Geo highlights.

A sign of acceptance and visibility

The meaning of the rainbow flag goes far beyond the bright colors; It is used worldwide as a sign of hope and solidarity for all people who experience discrimination in their countries. According to a report by Geo, there are nearly 1,500 hate crimes against queer people in Germany, a worrying increase of over 50% compared to last year. These developments show that the visibility of the rainbow flag remains crucial to advocating for the rights and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people.

So whether to hang the traditional rainbow flag or the Progress variant remains a contentious issue between the ministries. The pioneering spirit of initiatives like Faeser's to show the rainbow flag all year round is at the forefront and encourages many to work for a fairer and more open society.