S013-ALEMANIA MARCHA ORGULLO LGTBI BERLÍN

Several hundred thousand people took part in the Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebration in Berlin on Saturday (July 26). The event came after a controversial decision by the president of the German parliament to not fly the rainbow flag in front of the German parliament like in previous years and security concerns leading to the cancellation of some CSD events in Germany.

"This year, the political message is important, but we are dressed for fun and we will also have some," said participant Thomas Kiel. "I like to attend the parade again and again to show that we are here, that there is gay life in Berlin, that there is a pretty rainbow flag that can even be hoisted at the German parliament."

Other participants also felt an increasing erosion on LGBT rights in Germany. "The political mood is changing and we are very afraid of what will happen. Not because of external factors such as migration, but because of what is happening internally," said participant Julia Redler. Germany's parliamentary election in February saw the far-right Alternative for Germany come in second with over 20% of the votes. Along other anti-LGBT laws, the party is also in favour of outlawing same-sex marriage again which has been legal in Germany since 2017.

Christopher Street Day commemorates the riots that broke out in New York in 1969 after police raided a gay bar -- an event seen as a turning point for the gay rights movement. It has been celebrated in Germany since 1979.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BERLIN, GERMANY (JULY 26, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF CHRISTOPHER STREET DAY (CSD) PARTICIPANTS WALKING

2. MEN IN ANGEL COSTUMES WALKING BY

3. VARIOUS OF GERMAN UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING WITH FLAGS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, GERMAN FLAG AND RAINBOW FLAG IN FRONT

4. PARADE WITH BUS

5. PERSON IN ANTHROPOMORPHIC ANIMAL COSTUME DANCING

6. MAN WITH RAINBOW COLORED WINGS

7. PRIDE FLAGS

8. PERSON IN ANTHROPOMORPHIC ANIMAL COSTUME AND OTHERS WALKING

9. PEOPLE IN DOG-THEMED FETISH GEAR WALKING

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON FLOAT DANCING

11. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS

12. PERSON IN DOG-THEMED FETISH GEAR STANDING IN CROWD

13. PAN FROM CSD PARTICIPANT THOMAS KIEL IN COSTUME TO DRAG QUEEN AND PERSON IN COSPLAY

14. KIEL AND CSD PARTICIPANT ALEX (NO LAST NAME GIVEN) WALKING

15. (SOUNDBITE) (German) CSD PARTICIPANT THOMAS KIEL SAYING:

"I like to attend the parade again and again to show that we are here, that there is gay life in Berlin, that there is a pretty rainbow flag that can even be hoisted at the German parliament, if there is are a different president (of the German parliament) (NOTE: Referencing a decision by the president of the German parliament to not fly the rainbow flag in front of the German parliament like in previous years.)

16. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CSD PARTICIPANT ALEX (NO LAST NAME GIVEN) SAYING:

"I am in favour of freedom of all kinds, equality, and all laws.

17. (SOUNDBITE) (German) CSD PARTICIPANT THOMAS KIEL SAYING:

"This year, the political message is important, but we are dressed for fun and we will also have some."

18. (SOUNDBITE) (German) PSYCHOTHERAPIST LEA GUTZ FROM GROUP "PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, HATE AND HATE SPEECH" SAYING:

"Being part of Pride and being here at CSD has nothing to do with violating neutrality, but rather it is important because we simply stand for human rights and that all people deserve to be respected, to love as they want, to be as they want, and yes, we all need to show our faces, especially in these times when that no longer seems to be a given. And I find that cruel, which is why we are here today."

19. SIGN (German) "PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, HATE AND HATE SPEECH"

20. (SOUNDBITE) (German) CSD PARTICIPANT JULIA REDLER SAYING:

"Today, it is more important than ever to be here and show our colours, because the political mood is changing and we are very afraid of what will happen. Not because of external factors such as migration, but because of what is happening internally. We are a country that has stood for diversity and a new beginning, and we want to continue to stand up for love."

21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CSD PARTICIPANT BRELO (NO LAST NAME GIVEN) FROM BERLIN SAYING:

"I think it's very important for us to be here, show that we exist, we are not going to take steps back, we're going to defend our own rights and we are going to continue to fight for equality among everyone else, you know, like LGBT people are everywhere, it's been there forever and we need to show that, we aren't a class, we just want to be accepted and respected in this society in general."

22. PROTEST SIGN "BEING GAY IS LIKE GLITTER IT NEVER GOES AWAY"

23. PEOPLE IN RAINBOW CLOTHES

24. VARIOUS OF PARADE

25. PEOPLE DANCING ON FLOAT

26. PEOPLE DANCING IN CROWD

27. DJ ON FLOAT

28. PEOPLE DANCING

29. DRAG QUEEN POSING

30. PEOPLE IN UPSIDE-DOWN CLOWN COSTUMES WALKING

31. VARIOUS OF PARADE FLOAT

32. PARADE FLOAT WITH SIGN "NO PRIDE IN SILENCE SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGARIAN QUEERS"

33. DRAG QUEEN DANCING