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Bisexual scientist flees Trump – new in Freiburg!
Biophysicist Fiona Kearns flees discrimination from the USA to Freiburg in 2025. Her experiences shed light on current challenges for LGBTQ+ people in research.
Bisexual scientist flees Trump – new in Freiburg!
These days, news about the challenges queer people face is ubiquitous in many parts of the world. The most recent example is the story of Fiona Kearns, a 33-year-old biophysicist from Florida who fled to Germany due to political developments in the USA. Fiona is bisexual and is very afraid of physical violence and job loss, especially since Donald Trump's re-election as president. SWR reports that ... She has had a position as a junior professor in Freiburg for six weeks and feels safe and comfortable there, which is in stark contrast to her life in the USA.
Fiona notices the openness with which many people in Europe live their sexuality. This is not least important because the situations for queer people in the USA are becoming increasingly serious. Professor Sieglinde Lemke from the University of Freiburg has observed that Trump's policies have a negative impact on queer people. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have risen sharply in the US, and suicide rates among queer youth are alarmingly high at 40% - and even 50% among trans youth.
A worrying trend
According to a report by Tagesschau, anti-queer crimes are also increasing in Germany. In 2023, 1,785 cases were recorded, an increase of around 50 percent compared to the previous year. The most common crimes are insults, acts of violence and threats. Here, too, there is a high number of unreported cases because many incidents go unreported.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is calling for these crimes to be consistently prosecuted and has set up a working group to combat homophobic and transphobic violence. Awareness of these issues has grown in society, but there is still a lot to be done. The political situation in many countries, including Germany, shows that the criminalization of homosexuality is still widespread worldwide.
Global challenges for LGBTQ+ people
As the Lesbian and Gay Association of Germany reports, there are 63 countries worldwide that criminalize homosexuality. In some countries, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, there is even a death penalty for same-sex acts. Religious and political leaders often foment a climate of hate, which compounds the challenges facing queer people worldwide.
Despite all these adversities, there is also hope: in Europe and parts of the world such as Germany, 38 countries have now opened marriage to same-sex couples. Support for equality for LGBTQ+ people continues to grow, but significant barriers remain to be overcome in many regions, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Fiona Kearns left her partner in the USA and finds it difficult to say goodbye. Nevertheless, with all the challenges that she and other queer people face, there is also a remarkable resilience and determination to stand up for more rights and equal opportunities. The international LGBTQ+ community does not remain idle and fights for a better future.