In Berlin, the Casua Kuà center was stormed by the police. The Berlin queer representative and the Germany-wide CSD association are distancing themselves from the center. In order to obtain vital hormones, trans people continue to have to obtain them “illegally”. – A comment from Dalia Ali.

Sunday evening in Berlin-Kreuzberg: trans women gather at the queer center Casa Kuà for a weekly meeting. They come together to exchange ideas, to make contacts, to be with each other. Part of the meeting is a workshop on cryptocurrency. For many trans people, it is the only way to access medication for their hormone replacement therapy. Minutes later, 38 officers from the State Criminal Police Office are in the location and surround the room.

A meeting turns into a raid. Theaccusation? The center illegally passes on prescription medications. The personal details of more than 21 people are recorded - some of them involuntarily. The policeexplainedthe participants, they check “whether someone has committed a crime in the past”. They did not explain to what extent a punishable crime was related to the raid.

After this action, political groups and people expressed solidarity with the center. During the operation, almost 140 people gathered and demanded an immediate end to the search. A number of these circulated in the coming days and weeksPostson social media who oppose state repression and demand adequate health care. One took place in Berlin on Saturdaydemonstrationin solidarity.

Raid on queer center in Berlin: criminalization of healthcare for trans people

No positioning of the CSD umbrella organization

But not all LGBTI organizations show unrestricted solidarity. In oneopinionthe Germany-wide CSD association comments on the raid on Instagram. In their story, which was quickly deleted, they said: “As the investigation is currently ongoing, we will refrain from making any further speculative statements.”

It is sad that one of the largest organizations for LGBTI+ people in Germany offers nothing more than distancing themselves from a direct attack on trans people. An organization that should model itself on the self-determined Stonewall protests is relying on the state's investigations instead of showing solidarity with its brothers and sisters under attack.

They continue to write: “At the same time, we make it unmistakably clear: we stand completely at the side of the trans community.” But what is this “complete support” worth if not a word is said about the search? They later criticize the legislation and the federal government, which makes medical access to health care more difficult for trans people.

The operation, the search, the decision of the public prosecutor: all of these are expressions of the legislation enforced by the state's repressive apparatus. If the CSD rightly criticizes the fact that the federal government wants to fine-tune the self-determination law and thereby make life more difficult for trans people, that is completely right. However, it is not enough to oppose the laws but not their implementation. That doesn’t exactly show “completeness”.

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Repression and denied access

When Alfonso Pantisano (SPD), Berlin's queer commissioner, in hisstatementsees the search as legal and therefore legitimate, it is a slap in the face to those affected. If, in his position as representative for LGBTI+ people in Berlin, he only assesses the attack based on whether there was a court order, that should be criticized.

At the same time, it should also be clear that his role in state institutions entails exactly that. Pantisano will not denounce the state's repression in his office or in his party political activities. Expecting that would be in vain.

But it also raises the question of why people cannot secure their health care through conventional means and why they then have to resort to such means. Trans people are formally recognized through the Self-Determination Act or state funding for CSDs. Nevertheless, bureaucratic health care and government hurdles often force them to get their medication through third-party retailers. As a result, they are then affected by state repression,

Unofficial routes as the only option

In reality, trans people experience the hurdles of the German healthcare system every day, which makes it difficult for them to access hormone replacement therapy. Be it the numerous letters and emails that have to be sent to therapists and so-called “specialists”. Be it the structurally shortened and overcrowded therapy places, which are necessary for an “indication”. Be it the indication itself, i.e. the diagnosis of who is actually trans. At every corner, trans people face humiliating processes in which they constantly have to explain their gender.

In addition to the few trans people who can then get a prescription for the medication based on an indication, there are still a large number of trans people who cannot. Some do not have access to health insurance for a variety of reasons. Others live in a parental home where they are forbidden from taking the medication. Others have already started therapy in another country but have not received a prescription in Germany.

For many trans people, there are not many options left other than to obtain medication through unofficial channels and thus be able to carry out their vital therapy. Instead of criticizing the numerous hurdles and the broken system, the discourse remains that necessary medication is passed on in solidarity.

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No reliance on this state

But the German state and the current federal government are making no move to improve medical care for trans people. On the contrary: in times of global shift to the right and fascism, trans people are coming under increasing fire. The coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD holds out the prospect of tightening the self-determination law. More and more funding for LGBTI projects is being cut.

And the AfD, the currently strongest party in Germany in polls, is openly hostile to trans people and speaks disparagingly of a “rainbow ideology”. All of this shows how serious the German state is when the rainbow flag hangs on the Bundestag in June and the CDU puts a car at the CSD.

Trans people who rely on their vital hormone therapy often have to continue to look after themselves. Past the state, its health system and its institutions. Because they cannot rely on this state. Not today and certainly not in the future.

The postRaid on Casa Kuà: Trans people cannot rely on this state!appeared firstperspective.