LGBT History in Germany - 21st Century

21st Century

• 2000 - the Bundestag officially apologizes to gays and lesbians persecuted under the Nazi regime, and for "harm done to homosexual citizens up to 1969".
• 2001 - Germany recognizes civil partnerships for same-sex couples (without joint adoption until Oct 2004, then with step-adoption); Klaus Wowereit becomes the first openly-gay politician elected mayor of Berlin (and, by virtue of Berlin's status as a state, one of the two first openly-gay premier of a German state; also makes Berlin the largest city in the world with an openly-gay mayor); Ole von Beust becomes the first openly-gay mayor of Hamburg.
• 2004 - same-sex stepchild adoption is legalized; Guido Westerwelle, leader of the FDP, becomes the first leader of a major party to come out.
• 2009 - Westerwelle becomes the first openly-gay member of the Federal Cabinet (Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister under Angela Merkel coalition government).