“United in love. Against hatred, war and discrimination” is the motto. Up to 500,000 participants are expected today at the big party parade.
Berlin – After two years of corona-related restrictions, there will be another big party parade for Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin on Saturday.
The colorful event, for which the organizers expect up to 500,000 participants over the course of the day, started at noon with a rally and a shower of confetti on the Spittelmarkt in the Mitte district. The demonstration train that follows leads 7.4 kilometers through several Berlin districts to the Brandenburg Gate.
The Berlin CSD is one of the largest events of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community in Europe. On the one hand, the participants take action against violence and discrimination. On the other hand, they want to celebrate a mega summer party and just have fun. This is also expressed in the motto of the demonstration: It reads “United in love. Against Hate, War and Discrimination”.
According to the organizers, 96 vehicles and at least 80 foot groups from all over the world are taking part in the demonstration – more than ever before at the CSD in Berlin, which is now in its 44th edition. Among them are people from Ukraine, who have had to defend themselves against a Russian war of aggression for the past five months.
Christopher Street Day is celebrated worldwide. The movement dates back to events in June 1969, when New York police officers stormed a bar on Christopher Street, sparking a riot by gay, lesbian and trans people. dpa
