On the fringes of CSD Hamburg this weekend, a wave of shock swept through many queer attendees when reports surfaced that the security service at the popular, centrally located Europa Passage refused entry to people carrying rainbow flags (TheColu.mn reported). The police even had to intervene, and on social media there were further accusations directed at the security personnel and the officers involved. In the meantime, there is growing criticism from the CSD organizers, while the shopping center has downplayed the incidents.
The shopping center told NDR that these were “isolated cases” and a “misunderstanding.” Security staff had “in some cases initially not allowed visitors with larger flags to enter for safety reasons.” But there was no instruction from management to ban rainbow flags from the center. The center also said it had “immediately reacted” after the incidents and clarified internally that there is no ban on carrying flags and the like inside the center.
Europa Passage: We’ve Raised Rainbow Flags Ourselves
On Instagram, the shopping center emphasized that Europa Passage stands for openness, diversity and a discrimination-free togetherness. “As a visible sign, we recently raised rainbow flags on our roof. A ban on rainbow flags would therefore not fit our self-image.”
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The response from Europa Passage on Instagram, however, seems to fall short for the CSD Hamburg: “The Europa Passage has now posted a rather nondescript explanation on Instagram. Not a word of apology. Not a word about an investigation or consequences. Instead, a reference to the rainbow flags on the roof!” the association stated. “What we say to that: A rainbow flag on a roof does not automatically make anyone queer-friendly! We demand an apology to those affected, we demand transparency and we demand an explanation of how a similar incident will be prevented in the future! There can be no simply ‘business as usual’!”
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Instagram
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On Instagram, too, many users criticized the center’s reaction. One user remarked in the post’s comments that the Europa Passage had committed “a small misstep”: “You forgot to upload the last two slides stating that the responsible security personnel were terminated immediately and that, of course, the day’s sales proceeds are donated to a queer project.” (dk)
