Officer fights back – Bundeswehr reprimands Tinder profile

“Spontaneous, lusty, trans*, open relationship looking for sex. All genders welcome.” With this entry in her Tinder profile, Lieutenant Colonel Biefang has been criticized and even reprimanded by her employer. In 2019, an unauthorized screenshot of her profile was taken: “Because of this, my commander was actually planning to replace me immediately from my position as battalion commander,” the 48-year-old describes the consequences of the incident. In the end, she was reprimanded – but the agent won’t accept that either.

Female soldier: Doubts about lack of leadership skills are ‘absurd’
The disciplinary action was justified by the fact that Biefang was not allowed to choose her words in a way that would damage her reputation as a soldier. These should not cast doubt on the integrity of the character. “It is absurd and inadmissible to assume that my private life limits my leadership skills,” the soldier said. So far, she has failed with her complaint to the Military Service Court and the Federal Administrative Court. Now she wants to fight for the right to sexual self-determination before the Federal Constitutional Court.

Organization criticizes sexual morality of the 1950s
Biefang was the first transsexual commander of the Bundeswehr. At the time of the reprimand, she was commander of Information Technology Battalion 381 in Storkow. The soldier receives support from, among others, the Association for Freedom Rights. A lawyer for the organization criticized the Federal Administrative Court for reviving 1950s sexual morals. His judgment reinforces prejudice against women and queer people.