Federal Association for Homosexuality
The Federal Association of Homosexuality (BVH) was an attempt to create an umbrella organization for homosexuals in the (West German) Federal Republic. The BVH was founded in Cologne in 1986 and dissolved in 1997.
In the opinion of its critics, the association broke due to its lack of political perspective after the abolition of § 175 StGB . Unlike the LSVD , the BVH wanted to represent a more extensive way of life policy beyond the opening of marriage or the introduction of civil partnerships . Critics considered the concept of "lifestyle policy" to be essentially illusory in terms of legal policy. Since then, there have been similar initiatives to extend the protection of living communities in California, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Austria ( see also Registered Partnership , Civil Pact ) .
The BVH archive is kept in the Schwules Museum , Berlin.