Several American companies have withdrawn as sponsors of the Christopher Street Day move (CSD) in Cologne. They reacted to the changed political climate in the United States, said the Cologne Pride board. The companies had previously been committed to the goals of the CSD for decades. “The financial support from companies is of course very important for the Cologne Pride and also for the entire Pride movement,” said Hugo Winkels, board member of Cologne Pride. Europe should not also go the path of the USA, where Donald Trump’s government is massively restricting the rights of people from the LGBTQ community. “Unfortunately, in Germany we are already experiencing a social mood that restricts civil society commitment and willingness to donate.”
Last year, the CSD parade in Cologne attracted 1.2 million visitors. The CSD parade itself consisted of 65,000 participants and 250 groups, including 90 festival cars. Winkels said the existence of the CSD this year was not in danger. But it worries him what this development means in the medium term.
