Gay marksman, Catholics clash over his choice of queen
Dirk Winter isn’t the first gay man to be crowned King of the Shooters or, in German, “Schutzenkoenig.” His marksmanship is not in question. It is his choice of his shooting queen that is causing a stir among German gun aficionados, Catholics and gay advocacy groups.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported Winter came in third place at a local shooting club’s annual bird hunt, which qualifies him for national competition.
If he isn’t disqualified.
The problem, according to Religion News Service, is the gun club is not just a gun club. “The shooting clubs have a high profile in Catholic parts of Germany, where members are active in social causes. All clubs are very closely linked to the church, with church officials often sitting on their boards,” RNS reported. “There is, however, no requirement that members be Catholic, male or heterosexual.”
Every king needs his queen, and the King of the Shooters is no exception. Winter’s queen, according to RNS, would have the right to go to events with him, including parades. At first, Winters said he was going to choose a female friend to be his queen, but she and other friends dissuaded him. Instead, Deutsche Presse-Agentur said “he picked his longtime partner Oliver Hermsdorf.”
- Deseret News.
