Bund Lesbischer und Schwuler JournalistInnen

The Bund Lesbischer und Schwuler JournalistInnen e.V. (BLSJ) is a German registered association of lesbian and gay journalists headquartered in Berlin. Founded on 19 April 1997 in Berlin, it operates nationwide and maintains regional groups in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main and Munich. The association describes itself as the third-largest interest group of lesbian and gay journalists worldwide, after those in the United States and Canada. The BLSJ works on two main levels. On one hand, it advocates for the rights and interests of lesbian and gay journalists and for a prejudice-free climate in editorial offices, documenting cases of workplace discrimination. On the other hand, it campaigns for fair and realistic reporting about lesbians and gay men and takes action against homophobic media coverage, aiming for reporting that goes beyond clichés and reflects the diversity of lesbian and gay lives. Among its best-known activities is the Kölner Appell of 22 September 2001, which called on lesbian, gay and bisexual public figures to be open about their sexual orientation and urged journalists and media to de-taboo the subject. The BLSJ monitors media coverage and has drawn the German Press Council's attention to anti-gay newspaper reports, leading to official reprimands. It also runs the annual Felix-Rexhausen-Preis, a media prize honouring journalistic commitment in reporting on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, named after the self-confident gay journalist and co-founder of Amnesty International's German section, Felix Rexhausen. The prize has been awarded since 1998, with a jury of seven members and its own website. The association also initiated the Waldschlösschen-Appell against the trivialisation of homophobic defamation, and maintains projects such as the "Besser berichten" guide, media watch activities, and a glossary on queer topics. Its board has included Axel Bach, H. Marie Breer and Konstantinos Mitsis, and Martin Rosenberg (1962–2010) has been honorary chairman since 17 July 2010. Members are represented in many leading German media companies.

The Bund Lesbischer und Schwuler JournalistInnen e.V. (BLSJ) was founded on 19 April 1997 in Berlin as an association of lesbian and gay journalists. It is headquartered in Berlin and operates throughout Germany, with regional groups in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main and Munich. According to its own information, it is the third-largest interest group of lesbian and gay journalists worldwide, after the United States and Canada. Its members are represented in many leading German media companies. The association pursues two main strands of activity. First, it advocates for the rights and interests of lesbian and gay journalists and for a prejudice-free climate in editorial offices, documenting cases of discrimination in the workplace. Second, it campaigns for fair and realistic reporting about lesbians and gay men and acts against homophobic media reports, aiming to encourage coverage beyond clichés that reflects the diversity of lesbian and gay lives. A landmark initiative was the Kölner Appell of 22 September 2001, in which the BLSJ called on lesbian, gay and bisexual public figures to stop hiding their sexual orientation, thereby contributing to a relaxed and matter-of-course approach. It also demanded that journalists and media de-taboo the subject: sexual orientation should be mentioned when it is necessary for understanding a news item or story or for assessing a person's credibility, while distinguishing between sexual orientation and private life and treating all people equally. The BLSJ monitors media coverage and has repeatedly alerted the German Press Council to anti-lesbian and anti-gay newspaper reports, leading to official reprimands. In the coverage surrounding the murder of Rudolph Moshammer on 14 January 2005, some prominent media used the term "Homosexuellen-Milieu" (homosexual milieu), a term historically burdened with pejorative, sordid associations. The BLSJ set up the website www.homosexuellen-milieu.de, criticised colleagues in two press releases and explained the term. This helped trigger a short discussion in blogs, print and broadcast media, and on 18 January the Tagesspiegel proposed the term as a future "Unwort des Jahres" (non-word of the year) for 2005. Although the term was used less frequently afterwards, it still appears in media, and the BLSJ regularly documents such cases. Its work is taken up by some German newspapers in print and online. On the initiative of the association, the Waldschlösschen-Appell was launched against the trivialisation of homophobic defamation. The initiators warned of "increased hostility degrading homosexuality if many media continue to trivialise attacks on the dignity and human rights of homosexuals as part of the legitimate spectrum of opinion." Statements classified as such include claims that homosexuality is still unnatural or a choice, that it is curable, or that homosexual youths can "infect" others. Journalists are urged to clearly brand such statements as discriminatory hostility. The appeal was co-initiated by Johannes Kram, among others, and published in the Tagesspiegel. Within the association, a group of science journalists founded a "Fachgruppe Wissenschaftsjournalismus" (Science Journalism Section) on 10 March 2000 in Cologne, officially recognised by the BLSJ at the 2002 federal conference. In 2001 the section first advertised the Königin-Christine-WissenschaftsjournalistInnen-Preis. On 1 September 2002 the Königin-Christine-Gesellschaft was founded as a separate association; three of its seven founding members belonged to the BLSJ. The Königin-Christine-Gesellschaft awarded the 2002 prize. Since October 2010 no further activity of the section has been documented. The Felix-Rexhausen-Preis is awarded annually to honour journalistic commitment in reporting on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. The jury consists of seven members, and the prize has its own website. It is named after the self-confident gay journalist and co-founder of the German section of Amnesty International, Felix Rexhausen, who — during the era of § 175 and the criminal prosecution of homosexuality — addressed the living conditions of gay men "impressively, but also ironically and self-critically" (quote according to BLSJ). Prize winners include Thomas Rombach and Jürgen Kolb in 1998 for the radio reportage "Der süddeutsche Sängerkrieg oder Heidelberger Rosa Kehlchen versus Badischer Sängerbund" on Frankfurter RadioX; Karin Jurschick in 1999 for "Es gibt nichts, worüber wir nicht reden könnten" in the Kölner StadtRevue and Detlef Grumbach for his portrait of Martin Dannecker on Deutschlandfunk, "Bürger wider Willen – die Schwulen-Bewegung zwischen Revolte und Integration"; and in 2000 the Lesbisch-Schwule Presseschau Berlin, which appeared monthly from 1982 to 2001. The board has consisted of Axel Bach, H. Marie Breer and Konstantinos Mitsis. Martin Rosenberg (1962–2010) has been honorary chairman since 17 July 2010. The association maintains a range of projects and resources, including the "Besser berichten" guide, checklists, practical examples, glossaries, media watch, and the Kölner Appell and Waldschlösschen-Appell.

• 2017

  First anniversary of the entry into force of "Ehe für alle" (same-sex marriage) in Germany, noted on BLSJ website.

• 2010

  Martin Rosenberg (1962–2010) became honorary chairman on 17 July 2010.

• 2005

  After the murder of Rudolph Moshammer, BLSJ launched www.homosexuellen-milieu.de and criticised use of the term "Homosexuellen-Milieu".

• 2002

  Science Journalism Section officially recognised at the BLSJ federal conference.

• 2002

  Königin-Christine-Gesellschaft founded as a separate association on 1 September 2002.

• 2001

  Kölner Appell issued on 22 September 2001.

• 2001

  Science Journalism Section first advertised the Königin-Christine-WissenschaftsjournalistInnen-Preis.

• 2000

  Science Journalism Section founded in Cologne on 10 March 2000.

• 2000

  Felix-Rexhausen-Preis awarded to Lesbisch-Schwule Presseschau Berlin.

• 1999

  Felix-Rexhausen-Preis awarded to Karin Jurschick and Detlef Grumbach.

• 1998

  First Felix-Rexhausen-Preis awarded (winners: Thomas Rombach and Jürgen Kolb).

• 1997

  Founded on 19 April 1997 in Berlin.

Advocacy association for lesbian and gay journalists in Germany, promoting fair and non-discriminatory media coverage and a prejudice-free newsroom climate.

• Felix-Rexhausen-Preis

  Annual media prize honouring journalistic commitment in reporting on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals; jury of seven members; own website.

• Besser berichten guide

  Collegial guide for reporting on queer topics, with checklists, practical examples and glossary.

• Kölner Appell

  2001 appeal calling on LGB public figures to be open about their sexual orientation and on media to de-taboo the subject.

• Waldschlösschen-Appell

  Appeal against the trivialisation of homophobic defamation, co-initiated by Johannes Kram and published in the Tagesspiegel.

1. 1Bund Lesbischer & Schwuler JournalistInnen (BLSJ) e.V. | Verein für queere Menschen aus den Medienblsj.de
2. 2Geschichte: Inkrafttreten der Ehe für Alle | Bund Lesbischer & Schwuler JournalistInnen (BLSJ) e.V.blsj.de
3. 3Bund Lesbischer und Schwuler JournalistInnen – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Bund Lesbischer und Schwuler JournalistInnen – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org