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Volker BeckAn openly gay member of the Bundestag from the Green Party
Date of Birth: 12.12.1960
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Activism
- Green Party Leadership
- Bundestag Career
- 2005 Bundestag Elections
- Personal Life
- Moscow Incident
Early Life and Education
Volker Beck was born in Sindelfingen, Germany in 1960. He graduated from high school in 1980 and completed alternative civilian service before pursuing studies in German literature and history at the University of Stuttgart.
Political Activism
Beck's political journey began in the early 1980s with the peace movement. He participated actively in the boycott of the population census and joined the Green Party in 1985. In 1986, he became one of the party's chairpersons in the Stuttgart district.
Green Party Leadership
From 1987 to 1990, Beck served as the Green parliamentary group's representative for sexual minorities. He played a key role in opposing Peter Gauweiler's policies on AIDS. Beck was also active in the Federation of Homosexual Initiatives and worked to expand the organization into the "Association of Gays and Lesbians in Germany" after German reunification.
Bundestag Career
In 1994, Beck was elected to the Bundestag as a representative of the Green Party. After the 1998 elections, he assumed the role of political coordinator for legal affairs, women's issues, and children. Following the 2002 elections, he was elected as the first executive director of the Green parliamentary group and was re-elected in 2005.
2005 Bundestag Elections
In 2005, Beck was among the nine Green Party members who stood for re-election in the 2005 parliamentary elections.
Personal Life
Beck was openly gay and lived in Cologne with his partner, Jacques Teyssier, who passed away in 2009 from HIV-related illnesses. They were together for 17 years.
Moscow Incident
In 2012, Beck participated in a gay rights demonstration in Moscow that was banned by city authorities. He was injured by "skinheads," according to his account, and was arrested by the Moscow police. After his identity was established, the police apologized.
