Bavarian LGBTQIA+ groups criticize new state action plan

The LSVD+ Bayern and the association Queere Vielfalt in Bayern have criticized the Bavarian government’s new “Bavarian Action Plan Queer” for lacking clarity and binding commitments. While Social Minister Ulrike Scharf described the plan as a “clear commitment to the protection of LSBTIQ,” advocacy groups argue the document raises more questions than it answers.

Critics have raised approximately 200 questions regarding the plan, with some describing it as an “action plan without a plan.” Concerns have been voiced that the initiative may simply repackage existing projects under a new name rather than providing a well-funded, effective strategy to prevent queerphobia.

The criticism comes amid a reported rise in hate crimes targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, crimes related to sexual orientation and gender diversity have increased nearly tenfold since 2010, with an average of almost six cases of queerphobic violence recorded daily across Germany in 2025.