Frankfurt is not quiet at all, the Christopher Day Parade is underway.
Dear representatives of the media, dear people, CSD Frankfurt e.V. reported 13,500 demonstration participants, breaking the record of 8,200 demonstrators set last year. True to this year’s motto “30 years of CSD Frankfurt – and not a little quiet”, queers and allies roamed the streets, supported the LGBTQIA* community and showed the flag. Colorful as usual, but much more political than before – and with over 60,000 roadside spectators.
After a successful warm-up on Thursday at the Konstablerwache, where the gastronomy was allowed to warm up and the sponsor OUT tv presented the film “Charlatan”, the two Frankfurt drag queens Giselle Hipps and Feeby Fergison opened the program with a celebration on Friday afternoon. . “The atmosphere in the entire organizing team was happy and excited, everyone was ready to finally start,” says Gwen Iffland, press spokeswoman for CSD Frankfurt e.V. “There was still a certain tension in the air,” she continues, “especially after the important speeches and pleas to politicians and police to protect the queer community made it difficult for us to estimate how many people would actually come to the fair.”
But the community remained united: 120,000 people gathered at Konstablerwache and the surrounding streets over the weekend to celebrate the 30th Christopher Street Day in Frankfurt – and not to hide.
At the start of the CSD demonstration, which took place as usual on Saturday afternoon, Hessian Minister of Social Affairs and Integration Kai Klose (DIE GRÜNEN) and City Councilor Stefan Majer (DIE GRÜNEN) went up with Christian Setzepfandt (Aids Hilfe Frankfurt e.V. ) , Gwen Iffland and Sebastian Reggentin (press*innen CSD Frankfurt e.V.) rainbow flag on the Frankfurt Römer balcony.
The demonstration procession of 42 cars and 46 pre-registered groups, which grew many times over the course of the demonstration, moved around 13:00 for about two and a half hours from Römerberg through the whole city center to Konstablerwache, where the artistic, political and cultural program was carried out.
The information street in Große Friedberger was also extremely well visited this year. In addition to the cultural scene, which featured poetry slams, moderation, singing and the popular high heel run, the information street once again provided space for clubs and initiatives, but also for CSD sponsors to present themselves and exchange ideas with the Frankfurters. and let the guests come.
This year the program was completed by another stage, which was placed next to the information street above the rainbow circle and this year the GRIND team played electronic music. “The idea has been gratefully accepted and we are already planning to give the stage and everyone around it even more space to dance in the coming year,” says Sebastian Reggentin, spokesperson for CSD Frankfurt e.V..
The weather also played a part: still out of the heatwave, the visitors* enjoyed bright sunshine on all four days. Food stalls provided enough refreshments while acting as MiA. or Marcella Rockefeller, as well as local DJs like DJane Käry and DJ Sascha Dreyer gave the whole place a good atmosphere.
A special test balloon was the new awareness concept of CSD Frankfurt e.V., which was already very popular in advance. Specially trained volunteers for the weekend were in the square and in the awareness tent next to the main stage to make this year’s CSD Frankfurt as safe as possible in cooperation with security. People who faced harassment or discrimination of any kind, or visitors who could not physically or mentally stay longer in the crowd, could withdraw and found the helpers not only to provide appropriate help, but also listen to everyone’s concerns. “The concept, like the low-barrier design of the CSD, which we have already adopted this year with a sign language interpreter, bike taxis for people with reduced mobility during the demonstration, as well as an additional wheelchair area in front of. from the main stage, should be expanded, deepened and promoted significantly next year”, emphasizes Britta Helfrich, board member of CSD Frankfurt e.V. and responsible for accessibility and awareness.
As in the previous year, CSD Frankfurt was particularly pleased with the large increase in queer youth, who made themselves visible both loudly at the demonstration and peacefully on the fairgrounds, coming together and shown to be quite political.
