Verden under the sign of the rainbow

Verden was as colorful as a rainbow when 500 people started the parade at the first Christopher Street Day in Allerpark on Saturday. It was loud, cheerful and friendly.

Verden – “Be yourself” was the motto on Saturday at the first Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Verden. Queer people from the district celebrated their lives as trans or intersex people, lesbians or gays, bisexuals or asexuals. They demonstrated with sympathizers for their rights, respect and recognition. Around 500 people came to this peaceful, happy, colorful, but also thought-provoking celebration under the sign of the rainbow.

The CSD began with a demonstration through the city. Many were wrapped in rainbow flags or dressed in the bright colors. Some people sitting in the ice cream parlor also greeted the passing procession with colorful flags. There was music and speeches in the Allerpark afterwards. Several information stands were also set up, including the Omas gegen Rechts, Wabe, the Jusos and the Greens.

“You’re gay” shouldn’t be an insult

Moderator Shay explained why the CSD in Verden even exists. “‘You’re gay’ is still an insult, that has to stop,” she demands. “I would like to see the pyramids again, but I would end up in jail there because of who I am,” she continued. In Verden, too, structures for the recognition of queer people are still lacking. The CSD in Verden should be a starting point for change. “We’re doing our best to achieve that.” The contribution from the diverse, anti-racist group Antira United is about the diversity of identities and a strong statement against racism, populism and hate speech.

The origins of the Pride were also remembered, the uprisings of the queer community in New York in the 1970s. At that time, after a violent police raid on a bar on Christopher Street that was popular with homosexual and transgender people, the anger of queer people over years of oppression erupted. The following year, a memorial demonstration took place in New York. From this, the Pride developed all over the world. The mass movement won significant rights for queer people in many countries. “But the fight is not over yet,” recalled Antira United. Every person has the right to visibility, freedom and self-determination.

The group around Pupplayer Carlisito, who came in dog masks, also showed how colorful the group at the Verden CSD was. “We slip into the role of puppies and discover the world through play.” “We can do things that we don’t normally do because we’re adults,” explained Carlisito.

The gay friends Norbert and Petra think the Verden CSD is great. “I have experience because I go to CSDs all over the world,” says Norbert. He regularly attends WorldPride and EuroPride, and has been to Sydney, Washington and New York, among other places. Norbert is pleased that the organizing team has managed to put on a CSD in Verden. “In Nienburg, where I live, they haven’t managed to do it since 1990 because the opposition from the right was too strong,” he regrets. Norbert knows from his own experience how important events like the CSDs are. “I wasn’t myself for a long time and was in a marriage of convenience for years, secretly going out with men.” I was also incognito at the CSDs until 1987. Only then did I end my double life.”

In the Allerpark, people danced to the music of the band Viertel until the early evening. The organizing team, a group aged between twelve and mid-thirties, was very satisfied with how the first CSD in Verden went.