This Year's Christopher Street Day Will Be The Biggest Ever
For the first time in half a century, Berlin's biggest Pride event will span two days – and it's explicitly focused on the upcoming elections.
Friday, April 17
Berlin's biggest Pride event, Christopher Street Day (CSD), announced Thursday that this year's edition will do something unprecedented in its nearly 50-year history: extend the festivities to two days.
Typically, CSD is held on a Saturday in late July. This year, the demo-party will start early, beginning on Friday, July 24 with a gathering at the Brandenburg Gate. "A diverse evening celebrating democracy is planned, featuring music, artistic performances, and political speeches," a statement from the organisers read.
Berlin CSD sends a clear signal for the Berlin House of Representatives election: for an open society, for democratic values and for the equality of queer people.
The extension is meant to signal a focus on Berlin's upcoming elections, particularly targeting the 16- and 17-year-olds who, for the first time, are eligible to vote. The motto for this year is "Haltung ist Hot" – "taking a stance is hot" – and sub-slogans include "Being apolitical was yesterday" and "Green flags vote."
"Some forces wish we would become quieter or smaller. Quite the opposite is true: with the additional Friday, we are making history and will do everything we can to defend democracy and human rights more strongly than ever,” said CSD board member Thomas Hoffmann.
According to the latest polling, the conservative CDU is leading with 21%, with the SPD and AfD following with 17% each. The Greens and Die Linke are each predicted to get 15% of the vote. The far-right AfD in particular has been deliberately two-faced with its queer rhetoric, going after LGBTQ voters while simultaneously disregarding their rights.
