According to the police, around 350,000 people took to the streets. Co-organizer Ulli Pridat, on the other hand, said in the evening on RBB that he was assuming 600,000 participants. The celebrations should continue into the night.
During the move, there was a lot of support for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia: "Make love, not war," said a poster, but a banner also called for Ukraine to be armed.
The police were on site with around 950 emergency services. According to a spokesman, there were no special incidents until late in the evening.
"Berlin is and will remain the rainbow capital," declared Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) on the 44th Christopher Street Day. The capital has "one of the largest LGBTI communities" in Europe. "This colorful diversity enriches Berlin."
"Even today, people who consider themselves part of the LGBTI community are marginalized and even physically attacked," Giffey said. "We must therefore resolutely oppose hate and exclusion." She encouraged citizens to "take a clear stance against it".
The Bundestag had hoisted the rainbow flag for the first time in the morning for the event: one flag waved on Saturday on the Reichstag building and two others in front of it. Parliament is showing "the flag for tolerance and diversity," said Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) in a video message. This makes it clear to everyone that "gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and intersexuals are a valuable part of our country".
The rainbow flag was also hoisted at the Federal Council and in front of the Chancellery - these were also firsts. Numerous federal ministries also participated with flags or other activities in rainbow colors on their buildings. This became possible after Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) lifted a previously applicable ban on special flags in April. The rainbow flag may now be raised on certain occasions such as the CSD.
Christopher Street Day commemorates events in the United States in the late 1960s. On June 28, 1969, police stormed the Stonewall Inn gay bar on New York's Christopher Street. Days of heavy clashes between activists and security forces followed. The uprising is considered the birth of the modern gay and lesbian movement.
