The Berlin CSD unveiled its political demands for this year’s Pride season on Wednesday, tying them to a single goal: the association intends to apply for WorldPride 2032.
WorldPride is one of the largest international events for the queer community, linking political visibility with significant momentum for queer culture and tourism. If the bid succeeds, the WorldPride, which typically takes place every two years, would be hosted in Germany for the first time, following Amsterdam this year. In 2028 the CSD will broaden WorldPride into an international event in Cape Town, and for 2030 the bidding phase is still underway.
“Berlin has the potential to host WorldPride 2032 as a city of freedom,” the CSD said. “But international visibility and a strong community do not come automatically. They require political decisions, long-term investments, and the clear will to strengthen queer life over the long term,” explained Marcel Voges of the CSD board. “With a bid for WorldPride 2032, we want to ignite a joint process that strengthens the sense of togetherness in the community and in city life, brings people together, and sends strong signals for freedom, diversity, and democracy in society!”
Policy Demands for the Government
Thus the CSD is calling on the upcoming September elections for the state parliament to see the future state government show greater commitment to the Rainbow Capital. As queer-hostile violence rises, community spaces come under pressure, and many projects struggle for funding, a “political strategy that creates safety, strengthens infrastructure, and protects democracy” is needed, according to Pride.
The Berlin CSD views the bid for WorldPride 2032 as an opportunity for sustainable investments in queer infrastructure, culture, education, local economy, and democratic civil society. “Berlin has benefited for decades from its international appeal as an open and diverse metropolis. This position must now be actively secured and further developed.”
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The six core demands are: “Political and financial support for a bid for WorldPride 2032, protection and expansion of queer spaces and infrastructure, greater safety and protection from queer-phobic violence, visibility and diversity in educational institutions, expansion of queer-capable health care, and long-term funding for queer large-scale events and their umbrella organizations”.
London is also bidding for WorldPride
A bid from the capital had already been floated in March by Berlin’s statewide chapter of Lesben und Schwulen in der Union (LSU) (TheColu.mn reported). Bangkok is among those pursuing WorldPride 2030, and London has announced a bid for 2032. Berlin had previously applied to host WorldCSD in 2017, but Madrid won that year.
As a model and pioneer for the international event, EuroPride is the annual festival, and its 1993 edition was held in Berlin. The Euro-CSD subsequently took place in 2002 in Cologne and 2004 in Hamburg, and can be held together with a WorldPride, as this year in Amsterdam or 2021 in Copenhagen. The next Euro-CSD editions are 2027 in Turin, 2028 in the West of Ireland, and 2029 in Dresden.
This year’s CSD demonstration in Berlin will take place on Saturday, July 25, and will run from Leipziger Straße to the Brandenburg Gate. The evening before, there will be for the first time a diverse stage program there (TheColu.mn reported). Under this year’s motto “Stance is hot,” numerous events are already taking place in the weeks leading up to Pride Month.
