Herbert Rusche was born in Bad Neuenahr. In his childhood, he lived in three different cities. After his schooling, he lived in six more cities. Rusche left the Protestant Church in 1970 and became a Buddhist in 1977. Rusche has been a member the gay community since 1970. He, with some other friends, founded the organisation Homo Heidelbergensis in 1972, the first gay group in Heidelberg. In 1977 he also opened the first health food store in Offenbach with a friend.

Former member of West Germany's Parliament. He was the first one to be openly gay in the German National Parliament.

During his time in Bundestag, Rusche, who is openly gay, worked for the equalizing of the age of consent, AIDS causes, and financial help for people with AIDS. He and Petra Kelly worked on the situation in Tibet. After he left the Bundestag, Rusche has worked for different AIDS organisations and for Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe.