How Can a Lesbian Woman Lead a Far-Right Party? Exploring Homonationalism

Imagine a woman who loves another woman, shares her life with an immigrant partner, and raises two adopted children. Now picture her standing at the helm of a political party that rails against same-sex rights, immigration, and the very family she’s built. This isn’t a riddle — it’s the real-life story of Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party. Her story pulls us into a strange and troubling idea called homonationalism, where people from marginalised groups, like the LGBTQI+ community, embrace far-right beliefs that seem to clash with their own identities. In this article, we’ll unpack the AfD’s growing power in Germany and dig into homonationalism, weaving together insights from psychology, sociology, and history. Along the way, we’ll ask: How does this happen? What does it mean for society? And how can we learn from the past to shape a kinder future?