Social constructs and interactions - Bettina Böttinger backs CSD in Pirna
Journalist Bettina Böttinger (age 67) has urged people to support the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade in Pirna, Saxony, this year. The CSD demonstration in Pirna, scheduled for July 13, is an essential show of support for tolerance, respect, and diversity, according to the former "Kölner Treff" host Böttinger, who spoke to dpa in Cologne.
In tandem with a "Tour for Tolerance," backers of the CSD will journey by bus from Cologne to Pirna on July 13 to partake in the protest.
The CSD in Pirna has received a significant amount of attention this year. The MDR reported on the matter, leading to AfD-allied, non-party mayor of Pirna, Tim Lochner, voicing criticism in a Facebook post. Lochner allegedly suggested that the local evangelical church community's display of a rainbow flag on International Day against Homo- and Transphobia on May 17 resembled Hakenkreuzfahnen at churches during the Nazi period. Böttinger, who is married to a woman, condemned these comments as "unacceptable."
This kind of rhetoric requires a response from society as a whole, not just the LGBTQ+ community, as it concerns tolerance and diversity in general. "When I observe a rainbow flag hanging somewhere, I see it as a symbol of democratic comprehension for me," said Böttinger. "The message is: Everyone in this country can live if they uphold our democratic fundamental values - and that's a wonderful sign."
The Christopher Street Day occurs annually in numerous cities across the globe, reminding us of events from June 28, 1969: Police raided the New York gay and lesbian bar "Stonewall Inn" on Christopher Street, resulting in several days of protests by gays, lesbians, and transsexuals.
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- People from North Rhine-Westphalia will join the Tour for Tolerance bus trip to support the CSD parade in Pirna, Saxony, led by journalist Bettina Böttinger.
- Despite the CSD in Pirna receiving criticism from AfD-allied figures like Tim Lochner, many German cities continue to host the event annually, reminiscent of the Stonewall riots in New York on Christopher Street in 1969.
- The CSD parade in Pirna, on July 13, is significant for its representation of German values, specifically tolerance, respect, and diversity, as advocated by Böttinger, who is married to a woman.
- During an interview with dpa in Cologne, Böttinger expressed her concern over the unacceptable comments made by Tim Lochner, the mayor of Pirna, comparing the rainbow flag to Hakenkreuzfahnen during the Nazi era.
- Although Böttinger's support for the CSD in Pirna has gained attention, it is essential for society as a whole to respond to these anti-tolerance sentiments, as they impact the broader recognition of diversity and fundamental democratic values in Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
