Almost a third of those responding to a survey on a dating platform favor the right-wing party, which is known for its harsh stance on immigration
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is the top choice among gay German men in the February 23 snap elections, a recent poll has suggested. While the right-wing party has nominated its openly lesbian co-leader Alice Weidel as its candidate for the chancellorship, critics have long claimed that it espouses anti-LGBTQ views.
The dating platform Romeo, which predominantly caters to gay men, conducted a poll on the political preferences of more than 60,000 users in Germany between January 24 and February 2.
The AfD emerged as the most popular party, with 27.9% of respondents saying they were planning to back it in the upcoming election. The left-leaning Green party came in second with 19.9%, while the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) got 17.6%. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) was the choice of only 12.5% of those who responded.
The level of support for the AfD varied in different age brackets, being the strongest among gay men aged 18-24 at 34.7%, in contrast to just 19.8% among those over the age of 60.
Romeo noted that the methodology used in the survey was not necessarily statistically representative. The “geosocial networking” platform, which operates in multiple countries both through its website and an app, claims it has 3 million LGBTQ members altogether.
A German group called Queer Diversity has characterized the AfD as “homophobic,” alleging that the party seeks to do away with anti-discrimination laws and curtail gay rights. Similar criticisms have routinely been made by the party’s political opponents. However, the AfD does have several prominent gay and lesbian members in its ranks aside from Weidel.
Founded in 2013, the AfD has been steadily gaining in popularity in recent years. Despite making significant strides in terms of public support, the party is unlikely to form a government, even if it manages to win the upcoming election. The other main parties in Germany have all publicly ruled out entering a coalition with the right-wingers.
The AfD opposes military aid to Ukraine and advocates for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. It has called for reassessing Germany’s role in NATO and has suggested withdrawing from the bloc if membership does not align with the country’s national interests. The AfD also seeks significant reforms to the EU, with some members endorsing a complete exit if the desired changes prove unattainable. It has also vowed to close the nation’s borders and halt illegal immigration if it secures a position in the next government.
