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Manfred Bruns, Stuttgart:
Gesellschaftliche und (verfassungs-)rechtliche Einstellungen zur Homosexualität in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland : Rückblick und Ausblick
(Social, Legal, and Constitutional Attitudes Toward Homosexuality in the Federal Republic of Germany: Past, Present, Future)
Since its beginnings in 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany has undergone important changes in many respects. This is particularly true of public morals and public attitudes towards homosexuality. The paper deals with the changing social value judgments toward sexuality in general and homosexuality in particular, viewed against the background of societal and legal ideologies: from the initial extremely conservative positions controlled by the Christian churches and the continuing Nazi-type prosecution of homosexuals, through the so-called sexual revolution of the late Sixties, to the recent spectular law reforms leading to the federal "gay marriage" act .
About the Author:
Manfred Bruns, born in 1934, married, three grown children, was until his retirement in 1994 one of the highest-ranking German jurists and worked as Federal Attorney at the Federal High Court in Karlsruhe. Bruns is publicly committed to his homosexuality and has experienced many positive reactions. He has published and lectured extensively on gay rights and people with HIV/AIDS. He was a member of the Congressional Enquete-Commission "AIDS" of the Deutsche Bundestag, and successfully fought for a humane HIV/AIDS policy. He was honored by the President of the Federal Republic with the Federal Order of Merit 1st Class for his "social and socio-political commitment to the emancipation and acceptance of homosexuals, for the protection of their rights, and for upholding the dignity of people with HIV/AIDS". Magnus-Hirschfeld-Medal 2002 for outstanding service to sexual reform.
Today he lives with his partner in Stuttgart. He is one of the board members of the „Lesben- und Schwulenverband in Deutschland (LSVD) e.V." ("National Lesbian & Gay Organization in Germany") and works for the "Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schwule Juristen (BASJ)" ("National Work Group of Gay Jurists") as well as the „Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Schwule und Lesbische Paare (SLP)" ("National Work Group of Gay and Lesbian Couples"). Moreover he tries to assist gays and lesbians with legal and social problems.
Address:
Manfred Bruns, Treiberstr. 31, D-70619 Stuttgart.
Tel. and Fax: (+49 711) 4 78 09 88;
eMail: manfred.bruns@bigfoot.de
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