Pride Month: What visitors can expect at the various CSDs in June
Currently, the queer community (and everyone who feels connected to it) celebrates Pride Month. For some time now, many different events have been celebrated in June of each year - including the CSD.
Some cities have already held it, but many have saved this special highlight for Pride Month.
After the relevant events had to be cancelled due to corona in the past, the LGBTQIA+ community is once again looking forward to showing its diversity and proving to society that there is much more than "just" the cis standard.
But what does the CSD have to offer in the various cities and which Christopher Street Day should not be missed under any circumstances? And anyway: Why does this special day actually exist?
What's behind Christopher Street Day?
In fact, the term "Christopher Street Day" is the common name for the event only in Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland. In the USA and in many European and international cities, so-called "Pride Parades" or "Gay Prides" are organized.
The first demonstrations fighting for equal rights for homosexual people took place on New York's Christopher Street. At that time, demonstrations were held primarily against police arbitrariness against queer groups.
The first Christopher Street Day, which was meant to commemorate people's struggle for more tolerance, was celebrated in Switzerland in 1978.
CSDs and Pride parades are now held in almost every major open city in the world. They all attract numerous visitors. Interestingly, demonstrations are also held in many cities that many people might not think of. Especially here, however, it is all the more important to stand up against exclusion and become visible.
The most visited CSDs in Germany
To begin with, it is not only queer people who are invited to attend a CSD. The - in the truest sense of the word - colorful events are rather aimed at everyone who wants to celebrate and support sexual diversity.
The CSDs with the most visitors in Germany today are held in Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg.
Almost 500,000 people come to the Cologne event. This is not surprising. After all, Cologne has long been considered a very friendly and open-minded city - especially when it comes to sexual diversity. Important dates and information about the three event highlights can be found in the following sections.
The CSD Cologne 2022
This year, the most visited CSD outside of Pride Month will take place. On July 3, diverse queer people gather in the streets of the city to celebrate together. Besides the big parade, there are also numerous small events that are always worth a visit.
The CSD Berlin:
In Berlin, even two CSDs are celebrated at once. The event in Berlin-Marzahn can certainly be compared to a "big queer festival". A street party with especially many, international and colorful visitors and visitors. This impressive fete will take place this year on 18.6.2022. The official CSD of the capital was put on the 25.6.2022. The visit of both events is definitely worthwhile.
The CSD Hamburg
From August 5 to 7, LGBTQIA+ supporters can celebrate sexual diversity in the Hanseatic city. At many places in Hamburg (and especially on the Reeperbahn) there is a state of emergency at this time. The three days thus quickly become a big party series. Here it is not unlikely to meet also a lot of queer celebrities.
These and many other CSDs prove once again: Christopher Street Day is far from being just about partying and drinking, but rather about carrying an important message to the world.
Here you can find everything about the Vienna Rainbow Parade 2022