The parade, the parties, the people: how to enjoy the Christopher Street Day 2015
The Berlin Gay Pride 2015 will color soon the streets of Berlin. The also called “Christopher Street Day” will take place on Saturday, June 27th. Lesbians, gay men, transgender, intersex and bisexual people, demonstrate together with the support of many heterosexuals, for equal rights and protest against all forms of discrimination in society. In 2014 almost half a million participants took part in the event and so many are expected to come also this year.
The History of the name “Christopher Street Day” goes back to 1969 and recalls the resistance acts of a group of gay people against police oppression in the Stonewall Bar, located in Christopher Street in New York City. During the 70’s this day was remembered with a procession in New York and today Christopher Street Days and Gay Prides take place all over the world.
The Gay Pride in Berlin will be opened by the Governing Mayor of the city, Michael Müller, and several ambassadors (United States, the Netherlands, France, Israel, Slovenia and others) will celebrate the official opening. The event consists of two main parts: March and final Rally. The CSD is a mixture between a cheerful parade on the streets of Berlin and at the same time a manifestation that it’s increasing more and more its political content. Even in Germany, a total equality between gay and heterosexual couples is still missing.
In Germany acknowledgements for same-sex unions or Lebenspartnerschaft, evolved significantly in the last years but the law does not provide to gay couples the same rights of heterosexual married couples, Ehe. Different categories and legislations exist according to the “type” of couple. The German Constitution includes rights concerning marriage and family as guaranteed human rights (Article 6 ) but without specifying what a family/marriage really is or should be. The Article 3 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) states that all persons shall be equal before the law and that no person shall be favored or disfavored because of sex, parentage, race, language, homeland and origin, faith, or religious or political opinions.German conservative politicians are using biology-related issues and procreation as argument to constrast a fully equality between Lebenspartnerschaft and the classical version of the “Ehe”. Possible new steps towards equality could happen soon as the Bundesrat (German upper house or federal council), formulted a new resolution and put under pressure the Bundestag in order to open the concept of “ehe” to gay couples.
In the meanwhile, waiting for this, Berlin celebrates and asks for more rights. For all of those interested to join, here the most important information.
Berlin Gay Pride 2015 / “Christopher Street Day” edition 2015
Saturday 06/27/2015
MARCH:
The classical march in the city center starts at 12:00 (noon) in Berlin-Charlottenburg, on the corner of Ku’damm and Joachimsthaler Str. The route passes by Wittenbergplatz, Nollendorfplatz, the Siegessäule and Straße des 17. Juni.
THE AFTER MARCH:
The march will stop in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate, where a huge Pride Village will be opened from 2:00 pm till midnight. At 4:30 pm, the official musical and entertainment events begin. DJ’s, bands and music will be combined with political discussions. Later at night, many events around the city will take place. The official Pride Parties are going to be at: Imperial Club, SchwuZ and Arena Berlin.
TIMETABLE:
Meeting: 12.00 pm Berlin-Charlottenburg, on the corner of Ku’damm and Joachimsthaler Str.
Start: 12:30 pm – Arrival: around 5:00 pm Brandenburg Gate
FOR MORE INFO:
Official Webiste: http://csd-berlin.de/
CSD Demo: www.facebook.com/events/807483125964746/
Main stage programme: www.facebook.com/events/1647190758848857/
THE OFFICIAL PRIDE PARTIES:
Official Opening Party: PROPAGANDA
Friday, June 26, 10 pm
@ Imperial Club, Friedrichstraße 101, 10117 Berlin-Mitte
www.facebook.com/events/898946910146818/
Official Lesbian* Party: SUPERDYKE
Friday, June 26, 9 pm
@ SchwuZ, Rollbergstraße 26, 12053 Berlin-Neukölln
www.facebook.com/events/1595475090723577/
Official Closing Party: DISTRICT PRIDE
Saturday, June 27, 10 pm (beach party as of 5 pm)
@ Arena Berlin, Eichenstraße 4, 12435 Berlin-Treptow
www.facebook.com/events/338883046307391/
Photo: © oulsn CC By SA 2.0
