Something happened in Munich that would have seemed unlikely just a couple of years ago: the city, which had been ruled by the Social Democrats for decades, elected a young, openly gay politician from the Green Party.
His name is Dominic Krause. He's 35. And he's already made history.
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A Historic Victory
22 марта 2026 года Краузе выиграл второй тур выборов, набрав около 56% голосов и уверенно обойдя действующего мэра Дитер Райтер.
This isn't just a matter of changing the name on a plaque at City Hall:
- For the first time in Munich's history, the mayor is a member of the Green Party
- The era of more than 40 years of Social Democratic rule has come to an end
- and, most importantly, he is the city's first openly gay mayor
On stage during his victory speech, Krause kissed his partner. And that was the moment that made headlines across the German media.
🏳️🌈 “Bürgermeister” and Open Identity
Krause doesn't just not hide his sexual orientation—he makes it part of his public identity.
The German press is already calling him “Bürgaymeister” (a play on words: Bürgermeister + gay).
He lives with his partner, Dr. Sebastian Müller, whom he met as a teenager at a dance. The couple got engaged in 2024.
And this isn't a story of "coming out after a career." It's the story of a politician who was openly gay from the start.
Who is he, anyway?
Not your typical German bureaucrat:
- A physicist by training (Master's degree from the Technical University of Munich)
- He has been involved in politics since his youth, starting out with "Green Youth"
- Since 2023 — Munich's second mayor
- grew up in an ordinary neighborhood, without a privileged background
At the same time, he is seen as a “bridge” between different groups—not a radical, but rather a pragmatist.
Scandals and Style
Krause knows how to make a racket.
His most famous remark: He called Oktoberfest “the world’s largest open-air drug scene.”
It wasn't trolling for the sake of hype—it was more of an attempt to start a conversation about double standards: alcohol is okay, but cannabis is taboo.
That style is his trademark:
- a little bit of provocation
- a lot of straightforwardness
- and the feeling that he is “one of his generation,” rather than a politician from the past
What does he want to do?
If you set aside the symbolism and look at the program, everything is quite specific:
- 50,000 new affordable apartments
- the development of public transportation and bicycle infrastructure
- more pedestrian zones
- possible strict measures against housing speculation
He's not running as an "LGBT icon," but as a city manager. He just has a rainbow flag behind him.
Why Did the Former Mayor Lose?
Krause's victory isn't just about him.
His rival, Reiter, suffered a significant setback due to a scandal involving a paid position at FC Bayern Munich that he held without authorization.
In the end, he admitted, “I screwed up.”
Why This Is Important (and for the LGBT Community, Too)
This isn't just "another gay person in power."
This is a new model:
- Not a “queer politician,” but a politician who just happens to be queer
- not a niche agenda, but the mainstream
- It's not a battle for visibility, but the next stage—influence
Munich isn't Berlin. It's a wealthy, conservative Bavarian city.
And if they elect an openly gay person as mayor there—that’s a shift.
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