On Sunday around 1.5 million people marched through central Cologne for Christopher Street Day. Organizers and politicians stressed the importance for queer rights.
According to organizer Cologne Pride, around 60,000 people took part in the parade with about one hundred festival wagons. The demonstration carried the motto “For Queer Rights – Many. Together. Strong!” and was accompanied by a multi-day street festival.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) attended for the first time. He told the news agency DPA he wanted to show that the police protect everyone. Former Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth called for the defense of hard-won rights and referred to the AfD party conference in Erfurt.
Former Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) stressed that the CSD was more important than ever because queer rights were coming under pressure. Police reported no incidents until Sunday afternoon.
