Berlin celebrates diversity: Over 250,000 at the CSD 2023 for democracy

Berlin celebrates diversity: Over 250,000 at the CSD 2023 for democracy

The Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin attracted numerous visitors on Saturday, despite adverse weather conditions, and was all about diversity and democracy. Under the motto "Only strong together - for democracy and diversity", hundreds of thousands of people came together to raise their voices for an open and accepting society. The event ended with an impressive appearance by the well -known singer Herbert Grönemeyer, which thus focused on the social cohesion of the queer community.

an urgent call to the political action

The participants of the CSD vehemently demanded politics to anchor the protection of queer -friendly rights in the Basic Law. In the opening speech, Sophie Koch from the State Working Group Queeres Network Saxony expressed their concern about the threats that queer people are exposed. She emphasized the need for adapting Article 3 of the Basic Law in this election period. Support came from Federal Minister of Family Affairs Lisa Paus, who reaffirmed the claims of the activists.

of the CSD as a huge celebration for acceptance

With at least 250,000 participants according to police, the CSD is one of the largest events for lesbian, gays, bisexuals, trans, intersex and queer community in Europe. Despite the rainy weather, many held the position to support the messages of diversity and acceptance. Grönemeyer, who in his speech pointed out the current global threats of democracies, encouraged the crowd: "We fight for a progressive world, every day and side by side."

conflicts at the “Internationalist Queer Pride” in Neukölln

While the main event in Berlin was peaceful, the “Internationalist Queer Pride” had significant disputes at the same time in Berlin-Neukölln. This smaller rally, which demanded solidarity with Palestine, attracted 5,600 demonstrators at its top. According to reports, police officers and press representatives were reported with glass bottles and color bags. 31 demonstrators were temporarily arrested and 37 investigations were initiated. Such incidents illustrate the challenges that can arise in the context of political expressions of opinion.

threat from extremist groups

Despite the mostly peaceful atmosphere of the CSD, there were also security concerns. At the entrance to the event, the police prevented the access of a group of around 30 rights who may plan homophobic or, hostile actions. They too were brought before a standby judge and temporarily taken into police custody. These incidents show that there are still threats from extremist groups in peaceful meetings.

Overall, the CSD in Berlin reflects both the successes in equality as well as the still existing challenges with which the Queere Community is confronted. However, the strong participation and the clear demands for legal protection can be seen as a positive sign of the ongoing mobilization and the will for change.

- Nag