Imagine it is Sunday evening, 1990. You sit comfortably in front of the television, the title melody of Lindenstrasse sounds and then suddenly it happens. At the end of the current episode there is a shock moment that changes everything: Two men are passionate about all of Germany. What seems completely normal today (for most) caused an XXL scandal at the time.
A milestone in TV history: This kiss changed everything
It was long, long ago: we write the year 1990 and Lindenstrasse attracts millions of spectators in front of the screens every Sunday. Even then, the show enjoyed the call to take up socially relevant topics that the smooth-ironed TV world had otherwise not dared.
One of these scandal moments took place on March 18, 1990, in episode 224: Carsten Flöter (Georg Uecker) and Robert Engel (Martin Armknecht) kiss in front of the camera. In 1987 Lindenstraße had already sent a fleeting kiss between two men, but in 1990 they went all over: For the first time, two men were shown in an intensive tongue kiss full of passion. The characters had even spent a wildly romantic night before. An absolute novelty in the genre of the evening series, which usually avoided a wide range before controversial topics.
The kiss became the milestone of TV history and set a statement that was bitterly necessary in times of the AIDS crisis: Homosexuality is normal, everyday and also has its right to exist on television. In the 90s there was also the first lesbian couple on Lindenstrasse.
There were threats to murder: Germany reacted so violently to the TV kiss
Although the kiss was an important step for the representation of homosexual relationships, it triggered extreme controversy. As queer.de reports, actor Martin Armknecht after the kiss is repeatedly hostile by strangers:
People have become attacked on the street I insulted me: ‘You gay sow, off to the concentration camp’.
As Star reports, there were even bomb threats against those responsible. However, actor Georg Uecker, who had been confronted as a gay character since the beginning of Lindenstrasse, had been confronted with hostility. The kiss then finally made him a hate object; Again and again he had to endure murder threats and attacks. In an interview with Queer.de, Uecker openly lays that he had to be under protection to ensure his security:
I took it with a fighting spirit, but what was left for me? To live under personal protectionis not really funny and scares you.
For weeks it was hailing, hate messages and threats. Even the Catholic Church interfered and called for consequences. However, those responsible did not let the XXL scandal get them down and continued the production. Of course, the show did not always hit the right tone, but Georg Uecker is sure that it helped many people to find themselves:
In retrospect, the series has contributed extremely to the visibility of gay men, lesbian women, bisexuals and trans people in Germany. Lindenstrasse had 15 queer main characters over the years and more in side or guest roles.
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Lindenstrasse: This is how you can experience the classic today
Lindenstraße ran from 1985 to 2020. If you want to check the consequences from the 1990s, you currently have to use a payment subscription: All seasons of the show are available at ARD+. The service currently costs 4.99 and can also be completed as a channel at Amazon Prime.