Internal Documents Reveal Resistance to Rainbow Flag on German Federal Buildings

Civil servants challenge the privileged treatment of the rainbow flag. Finance Minister defies Interior Ministry's restrictions.

, and Administrator

2025 October 31 . 5:04 AM

1 min read

There is a building it has a lot of windows and doors, there are some flags stick to the poles in... — There is a building it has a lot of windows and doors, there are some flags stick to the poles in front of the building and the flag is of red,yellow and purple color.

Internal Documents Reveal Resistance to Rainbow Flag on German Federal Buildings

Internal documents have revealed persistent inconsistencies and deliberate violations of guidelines regarding the display of the rainbow flag on federal buildings. Officials within the Federal Ministry of the Interior, led by Minister Alexander Dobrindt, have been pushing to reverse the 2022 government order that allowed the flag to be flown, citing concerns about its 'privileged treatment'.

The resistance to the rainbow flag policy, introduced by Nancy Faeser (SPD) in 2022, comes from civil servants within Dobrindt's ministry, rather than a named individual. They have expressed their disapproval in a July letter, stating that the symbol is being treated differently from other flags.

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has been flying the rainbow flag multiple times, despite the Interior Ministry's intention to permit it only once a year on IDAHOBIT. The ministry's specialist department has warned that this practice could weaken the impact of state symbolism.

Dobrindt's officials are now seeking to end the display of the LGBTIQ+ symbol on federal buildings entirely. They have recommended reviewing the 2005 flag regulations to exclude special permits like the one for the rainbow flag in the future.

The revelation of these internal documents highlights the ongoing resistance within the Federal Interior Ministry against the rainbow flag policy. The ministry is now considering ending its display on federal buildings, potentially reversing the progress made in 2022 towards greater LGBTIQ+ visibility and acceptance.