In Germany, Cologne’s annual Pride Parade, or Christopher Street Day Parade, made history on Sunday, drawing more than 1.2 million participants and setting a new standard for LGBTQ+ celebrations in the country.
With around 60,000 participants and 90 vibrant floats, the city of Cologne came alive with color, music and powerful messages of unity and LGBTQ+ rights.
Under the theme “For Human Rights. Many. Together. Strong,” this year’s parade celebrated diversity and highlighted the ongoing fight for equality. The event was named after the New York City street that is home to the Stonewall Inn, a hub of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. According to German news agency dpareports, the celebrations kicked off on the Deutscher Bridge with inspiring speeches from prominent German politicians.
“The Cologne Pride Parade has a global reach,” said Claudia Roth, Minister of State for Culture. “The event is the most important CSD not only in Germany but also in Europe and symbolizes our unwavering commitment to human rights and equality.”
Organizers said the event attracted unprecedented participation and was the largest CSD parade ever held in Cologne.
Christoph Reichwein/Photo in partnership with Getty Images
Among the notable attendees were Tom and Bill Kaulitz of the musical group Tokio Hotel. In an interview with German television station WDR, Bill Kaulitz reflected on the liberation of coming out, saying, “I’m very touched by how many people have come up to me and found courage in my story. In the first years I lived a very private life and was never allowed to speak to the outside world.”
Despite the celebratory mood, the parade was not without incident: police were reportedly intervened after a group of 13 men made right-wing and homophobic remarks and pulled down a rainbow flag. The men were charged with inciting hatred and vandalism. However, the event overall was peaceful and without any major disruptions, showcasing the resilience and solidarity of the LGBTQ+ community.
The parade also came under scrutiny after a video was posted online calling for attacks on the event. According to German newspaper Köln Stadt-Anzeiger, police investigated the threats but found no serious indications. “After a thorough investigation, no serious indications were found,” a police press release said. However, the investigation into the threats is ongoing.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said events like CSD are more important than ever because of growing hostility towards queer people. “CSD is a very important demonstration for democracy, freedom and the rights of queer people,” Lauterbach said. “It’s shocking to see rights being restricted within Europe,” dpa reported.
