Cologne Pride - CSD should be a signal against the 'Rollback' of queer rights.
Multiple politicians and politicians have warned against a rollback of rights for queer people at the CSD demonstration in Cologne. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) said: "We notice that there are fascists and Nazis who want a rollback." The Cologne mayor Henriette Reker (independent) sees the parade for Christopher Street Day as a signal that "we are not making a rollback, that we are expanding what has been achieved in the last years and decades."
In this context, the Queer Commissioner of the Federal Government, Sven Lehmann (Greens), called for the inclusion of sexual identity in Article 3 of the Basic Law. So far, Article 3 states that no one may be discriminated against or favored because of their sex, descent, race, language, origin and homeland, belief, religious or political opinions.
"Bring this protection into the Basic Law"
"Yes, we need a change to Article 3, Paragraph 3," Lehmann said. Queer people are the last group that the Nazis pursued that still does not have an explicit protection status in the Basic Law. In its current form, the Basic Law in the past could not prevent human rights violations such as the first 175 paragraph of the Criminal Code, which criminalized sexual acts between men until 1994.
"We need a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat," Lehmann said. "I would like it to succeed before the next Bundestag election, to create this protection in the Basic Law and prevent our rights from being repealed again."
"You won't silence us!"
State Minister Claudia Roth (Greens) said that the Cologne CSD shines into the whole world. There is always reason to celebrate. "But I also say: No modesty - we are not yet at our goal." There are democracy enemies worldwide and in Germany. "There are state enemies, haters and haters, and they want to silence us, they want us to retreat, they want us to hide." The CSD gives a clear answer to this: "You won't silence us!"
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) referred to the increasing number of attacks against queer people and the growing hatred against them. "That's why we must stand together." But the CSD is not just about the rights of the queer community: "If your rights fall, all rights fall," Lauterbach said. "That's why it's an important political demonstration that has never been more important than today."
The Cologne CSD with 90 floats and 250 groups is currently making its way through the city center. It is one of the largest processions of this kind in Europe. With the CSD, events in New York in 1969 are remembered: Police stormed the "Stonewall Inn" bar in Christopher Street and ended a several-day uprising by gay men, lesbians and transsexuals.
- Sven Lehmann, the Queer Commissioner of the Federal Government, believes that sexual identity should be included in Article 3 of the Basic Law to provide explicit protection for queer people, similar to other protected groups.
- Bärbel Bas, the Bundestag President, expressed concern about the presence of fascists and Nazis who want a rollback of rights for queer people at events like the Christopher Street Day parade in Cologne.
- Henriette Reker, the Cologne mayor, views Christopher Street Day demonstrations as a strong signal that there is no intention to roll back or restrict the rights gained over the years and decades for queer people.
- Lehmann argued that a two-thirds majority in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat is necessary to amend Article 3 of the Basic Law and ensure that queer rights are not repealed again.
- Claudia Roth, the State Minister, highlighted that despite the progress made, there are still enemies of democracy and hate towards the queer community worldwide, and that events like the CSD in Cologne serve as a powerful response to those who want to silence queer voices.
- Karl Lauterbach, the Federal Health Minister, emphasized the growing number of attacks against queer people and the need for the community to stand together, emphasizing that the rights of the queer community are vital for all human rights.
- The Cologne Pride festival, commemorating the events of 1969 in New York, is one of the largest Christopher Street Day celebrations in Europe, with hundreds of groups and floats participating in the parade.
- Politicians in Germany have recognized the importance of events like Cologne Pride, not just as a celebration of queer culture, but also as a critical political demonstration against hate and discrimination, reminding society that the right to live freely and safely without fear of punishment is a fundamental human right for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity.
