A government-funded youth magazine has sparked outrage in Germany after promoting the use of trans hormones without medical supervision.
Out!, which is published by the organization Lambda e.V. and targets young people aged 14 and up, is partially funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.
Since 2007, Out! has been published three to four times a year, featuring articles on gender identity, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ activism. In issue no. 69, under the theme “Do it yourself,” the magazine includes a text discussing “DIY HRT” (Do-It-Yourself Hormone Replacement Therapy). The author, signing simply as “K”, describes how to access and self-administer hormones without going through a healthcare professional, either by purchasing them online or acquiring them informally through acquaintances.
Lambda e.V. received a total of €467,000 in public funds in 2023. Previous years also saw high figures: €646,000 in 2022 and €360,000 in 2021. In addition to these direct subsidies, Lambda is affiliated with the “Federal Trans* Association,” which is set to receive €475,000 in 2025 from the government’s “Demokratie Leben!” program, also managed by the Ministry for Family Affairs.
In the article, “K” states they were fortunate to access hormone therapy through a doctor, but questions why other young people should be subjected to such lengthy processes to begin transitioning: “There’s no reason why I should have to go through 12 hours of psychotherapy to get access to hormones, or need two expert reports to change my name — other than someone, somewhere decided that.”
While acknowledging that these practices carry risks such as thrombosis or depression, the article justifies self-medication as a “survival necessity” in contexts where legal access to transition is restricted. “The moral question of whether it’s legitimate to break the law takes a back seat to the sheer (survival) necessity of this practice.”
In Germany, hormone therapies are regulated by the healthcare system and require prior medical and psychological evaluation. Self-medicating, especially among minors, is strongly discouraged and may constitute a legal violation. Furthermore, acquiring hormones through unofficial channels — such as the black market or unlicensed websites — poses serious health risks, including the consumption of counterfeit, contaminated, or medically unsuitable substances.
Medical organizations and activists warn that hormone use without professional oversight can lead to irreversible consequences, from cardiovascular disorders to mental health issues. A recent report emphasizes that “transgender self-medication can result in dangerous and, in some cases, potentially fatal side effects.”
AfD Bundestag member Matthias Helferich has submitted a formal inquiry to the federal government, questioning how a publicly funded magazine can promote illegal practices among minors. “Lehmann (the government’s Queer Commissioner) trivializes what the Out! magazine is doing and puts young people at risk,” he told the weekly Junge Freiheit. “He is indifferent to the well-being of children; he sacrifices it on the altar of his trans ideology.”
In response, the Ministry for Family Affairs stated that publications by subsidized organizations are not reviewed in advance, in order to respect editorial independence. However, following the controversy, it requested a statement from Lambda regarding the article. The organization asserted that it does not support self-medication and that the article merely reflects the personal experience of a young person in an emergency situation.