The FC Bayern family has a special birthday celebration and therefore a special present: 'Queerpass Bayern eV', the first gay fan club at the German record champions, has been going for exactly 15 years. To mark the anniversary, club president Herbert Hainer and CEO Oliver Kahn presented the two fan club representatives Marcus Janke and Thomas Ponetsmüller with a photo of the Allianz Arena in the colours of the rainbow signed by the whole team at the 2-1 win against Freiburg.
President Herbert Hainer: "We'd like to congratulate 'Queerpass Bayern' on their 15th birthday. We are proud of our fans in the way they really stand up for basic social values such as diversity and tolerance, which are very important to us as FC Bayern. That's the way it should be. Mia san bunt!"
CEO Oliver Kahn: "As an open-minded club, FC Bayern stands for diversity. That's important to us and it has to be a given that everyone always feels welcome, valued and comfortable in our FC Bayern family. Congratulations on 15 years of 'Queerpass Bayern'!"
The motif originates from the first photo gallery when the Allianz Arena was first lit up in rainbow colours for Christopher Street Day on 9 July 2016 – a true contemporary document. "We are happy with FC Bayern's commitment to us and therefore all gay people over many years. The club provides ongoing support and that's important if you really want to achieve something," said Janke. Ponetsmüller added: "We really feel at home in the stands but also in the club and are happy to have FC Bayern at our side. We can always put forward our ideas and suggestions and there is great mutual support."
That includes the club standing side-by-side with LGBTQI* on Christopher Street Day and, as part of the FCB campaign 'Reds against racism', running joint workshops on tolerance and diversity. 'Queerpass Bayern' is on the verge of reaching 100 members.
FC Bayern honoured long-standing members last weekend:
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