Society - Hundreds of thousands expected at Berlin Christopher Street Day
Hundreds of thousands march again on Saturday for the rights of the queer community through the city. The organizers of the 46th Christopher Street Day (CSD) expect up to half a million people, who will march under the motto "Together we are strong - For Democracy and Diversity" from Berlin to the Victory Column.
In the afternoon, there is also a demo "Queers for Palestine" of the Internationalist Queer Pride (IQP) planned in Neukölln, where 15,000 participants have registered. The CSD organizers expressed themselves on inquiry about this, but explicitly distanced themselves from anti-Muslim sentiment, racism, and antisemitism.
The CSD in Berlin is considered one of the largest events for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-, intergender, and queer community in Europe.
CSD organizers continue to call for a constitutional amendment
The governing mayor had given the opening speech in the past, but behind the scenes, there is now obstruction: Last year, Kai Wegner (CDU) had hinted in his opening speech that he would drive a Bundesratsinitiative for the inclusion of queer people in Article 3 of the Basic Law forward. The CSD organizers had urged him repeatedly to follow through.
It is considered certain that Wegner would like to keep his word. However, a Bundesratsinitiative only succeeds if there is a two-thirds majority in the Federal Council. This is not very likely - especially CDU-led states may find it difficult to win over. Berlin failed with a similar attempt in 2018. It is expected that a new attempt at a failure would be nearly hopeless. Wegner has nevertheless announced that he will come to the event on Saturday.
Route & Final Link to Dyke-March Website
- The 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intergender, and Queer' community in Berlin is strongly represented during the annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) demonstration.
- Despite the positive momentum of the CSD, a separate demonstration titled "Queers for Palestine" organized by the Internationalist Queer Pride (IQP) will also take place in the Neukölln scene, attracting up to 15,000 participants.
- The CDU politician Kai Wegner, who expressed support for the inclusion of queer people in Article 3 of the Basic Law, has been urged by CSD organizers to back up his words with action, but faces challenges from CDU-led states in achieving a two-thirds majority in the Federal Council.
- The LGBTQ+ scene in Berlin is globally recognized, with the Christopher Street Day considered one of Europe's most significant events in promoting diversity and democracy within society.
- The Christopher Street Day in Berlin attracts up to half a million attendees, marching under the unifying motto "Together we are strong - For Democracy and Diversity," concluding at the Victory Column in the heart of the city.
