Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin is far more than just a “colourful parade” – it’s a demonstration and a political call for visibility, equality, and solidarity. 

Hundreds of thousands of people peacefully march for the rights of LGBT+ people and against exclusion and hate. And yet, of all institutions, the German Bundestag – the heart of our democracy – distances itself from CSD. This year, the rainbow flag, a global symbol of diversity and equal rights for decades, will not be raised there.

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner has announced that she will not fly the flag for Berlin Pride. Her reasoning: CSD lives from “protest in the streets” – the Bundestag should stay out of it.

This stance is disappointing and politically short-sighted. Especially now, at a time when queer people are increasingly under pressure – both globally and here in Germany – we need clear, public signals of state solidarity, not a retreat into symbolic single-day gestures.

When the Bundestag raised the rainbow flag for CSD for the first time in 2022, it was a milestone. A clear expression that this parliament belongs to everyone – including queer people. This progress must be built upon, not rolled back.

Not flying the flag for CSD means: retreat instead of resolve. Silence instead of visibility. Yet the parliament should be precisely the place where discrimination has no place – and where fundamental rights are defended, even against societal backlash.

With your signature, you’re taking a stand against this development. You’re demanding: the Bundestag must remain a visible and vocal advocate for diversity, respect, and equal rights in 2025 as well. Sign now.