Christopher Street Day Berlin 2013

Berlin, Germany

CSD Berlin

Enough rhetoric! March! Vote! Change!

The motto of Berlin Pride 2013 has been decided: “Enough rhetoric! March! Vote! Change!” At the democratic Pride Forum in December a substantial majority voted in favour of this slogan.

The German parliamentary election is looming, and it does not leave the 35th Berlin Pride untouched. All political parties have started making various announcements and promises. However, as always, the reality after the election is bound to be different. The current government stated in their 2009 coalition agreement that “steps ought to be taken to decrease the adverse equality of tax laws and in particular to implement the rulings of the Constitutional Court on equalising civil partnership and marriage.“

The German Constitutional Court has already made multiple rulings concerning equality – for example with regards to inheritance tax, real estate tax, surviving dependents – however the government is implementing them rather slowly, if at all. The German Chancellor Merkel even stated: “Personally, I would like to maintain the tax benefits for married couples only.”

“We cannot sue anyone based on election promises or coalition agreements. It’s the task of our capital’s Pride Parade to ensure that the unfortunately still present discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and intersex people comes to an end, “ says Dr. Sissy Kraus, board member of the Berlin LGBTI Pride Association, and lawyer by profession.

“We will not let ourselves be fobbed off with empty promises and rhetoric! Berlin Pride 2013 will be more colourful, more daring, more diverse, and above all even more political!” announced Robert Kastl, CEO of the Berlin LGBTI Pride Association. 2013 is going to be an important year for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and intersex people: in June we will demonstrate, in September we will vote, and then we will keep changing society for the better!

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