© dpa
The Berlin Senate appointed the 48-year-old Pantisano this Tuesday as Queer Berlin Liaison Officer, the Senate Department for Social Services announced.
Pantisano will henceforth be the Senate's contact person for queer communities in Berlin. He declared it his goal to lend his voice to parts of the queer community that are less visible and audible, he said.
Pantisano has been committed to the fitgh for more queer rights for many years. Among other positions, he used to be chairman of the SPDqueer in Berlin, a working group of the political party SPD for acceptance and equality. Queer refers to non-heterosexual people or people who do not identify with the traditional role model of man and woman or other social norms around gender and sexuality.
The SPD and CDU had agreed to appoint a queer commissioner for Berlin in their coalition agreement. The fact that the new government has made the issue a priority is an "incredibly important step," Pantisano emphasized. Such contact persons already exist at the federal level and also in some districts. Pantisano's appointment comes amid the Berlin Pride season, which focuses on diversity and queer representation.