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Germany’s president has asked for forgiveness from the LGBT community for years of persecution

Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke at a ceremony to remember the abuse during Hitler's reign

By Steve Brown

Germany’s president has asked for forgiveness from the LGBT community for decades of persecution.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke at a ceremony in Berlin which was held to remember the abuse of the LGBT+ community in the country during Hitler’s Nazi regime which saw hundreds of gay men killed in concentration camps.

Steinmeier apologised for the mistreatment of gay people after the war when homosexuality was still a criminal offence.

He said: “This is why I’m asking for forgiveness today, for all the suffering and injustice and the silence that followed.”

Steinmeier continued to said he wants to assure “all gays, lesbians and bisexuals, all queers, trans and intersexuals that they are protected in today’s Germany”.