Berlin's mayor defies opposition to welcome fetish festival

[emad]

Berlin's mayor defies opposition to welcome fetish festival
By Eva Kuehnen
Published: 31 August 2005

Berlin's mayor has shrugged aside any criticism from the conservative opposition over his decision to send a greeting to a leather and latex fetish gathering in the German capital.

Mayor Klaus Wowereit accused his opponents of being "small-minded." Welcoming the crowds at the Folsom Europe festival in Berlin this weekend for the second time, Mr Wowereit said in a written message: "We are proud that people of varied origins and predilections feel at home in our city and celebrate together. The first weekend in September will be marked by pure joie de vivre ... The international leather and fetish scene is meeting for the second time in Berlin ... Welcome to Berlin." The festival is Germany's attempt to copy San Francisco's sadomasochism fair.

However, Mr Wowereit's greeting did not please the conservative Christian Democrats, who described the mayor's message as "unspeakable".

"Glorifying violence and sadomasochistic excesses is to begin opting out of society," said Nikolas Zimmer, the Christian Democrats' leader in the Berlin state legislature.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article309196.ece

[Ian David]

1. Have they seen Fox News? n/t

"Glorifying violence and sadomasochistic excesses is to begin opting out of society," said Nikolas Zimmer, the Christian Democrats' leader in the Berlin state legislature.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Here in Fort Lauderdale, we've got the Blackheart Ball every year...

and the whips-and-chains crowd come from all over. It's actually a very big deal. And while you don't see he mayor stopping by or dropping a line, you certianly don't see them trying to stop it either.

[benburch]

3. As a member of the "Whips and Chains Crowd"

I really appreciate that attitude of tolerance on the part of your city.

[noonwitch]

7. Noir Leather in Royal Oak, MI sponsors fetish balls in the area

They have the balls at various metro-Detroit locations during the year. Again, it's not sponsored by the community, but no one is trying to stop it, either.

[VegasWolf]

4. Isn't tolerance supposed to be a virtue of these christians? Guess not!

[Dark]

5. Don't those Conservative Christians have a pogrom or something? n/t

[emad]

6. When will Rome get its own Fetishists Carnival? For all those

wannabe cardinals and bishops who just entered holy orders for the dressing up bit.....and maybe the occasional incense binge.

[onager]

9. Great! Berlin is returning to its Traditional Family Values!

Heh. I'm something of a History Geek, and have several good books about Berlin in the "Weimar Years." You know, when Christopher Isherwood and that crowd were hanging out there.

According to eyewitnesses, back then it wasn't at all unusual to see a whip-carrying, (barely) leather-dressed dominatrix walking right down the street soliciting customers. And she'd probably have a working friend right beside her, dressed like a Berlin schoolgirl complete with book bag, pigtails and knee socks.

[Kellanved]

8. yup,

posted about it in the lounge.


This Spiegel article is a pretty good read about the social dynamics at work.


http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,372189,00.html

As Wowereit himself said referring to the S&M festival, "that, too, is Berlin. And as long as nothing illegal happens, I expect tolerance."