Always Pride - weekend in rainbow colors

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The main thing is colourful: Scandinavia's largest Pride parade will be taking to the streets in Stockholm this Saturday.

As joyful as this demonstration for love, human rights and sexual diversity is, this year it has a tragic background.

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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Because it was only six weeks ago that there was a terrorist attack on a gay bar in Oslo, in neighboring Norway, in which two people died and more than 20 were injured.

The photo shows flowers laid near the scene in memory of the victims, just days later.

Photo: NTB / REUTERS

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That's why the organizers of the Oslo Pride parade canceled all events this year, on the advice of the police.

It is therefore expected that many participants who would have liked to take part in Oslo will join the parade in Stockholm, Sweden (photo).

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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Sophisticated costumes, plus pink and the colors of the rainbow: Stockholm celebrates exuberantly.

Some would say: Now more than ever.

Christopher Street Day (CSD) is commemorated in many cities with Pride parades in the summer: On June 28, 1969, the police stormed the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York's Christopher Street.

Days of heavy clashes between activists and security forces followed.

The uprising is considered the birth of the LGBTQ movement.

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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The organizers in Stockholm expected around 50,000 participants and around half a million people on the side of the road in advance.

The corona pandemic had prevented larger parades in the past two years

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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Also there are members of the Bearded Villains, a group of men who advocate tolerance and diversity and are characterized by brightly colored beards.

Photo: Anna Ringstrom / REUTERS

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Many politicians are also represented, here the Swedish Minister of Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter ...

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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... and here Ebba Busch, the leader of the Christian Democratic party KD.

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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Rather come unusual: Everything is allowed when it comes to costumes ...

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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...and not everything is seen through rose-colored glasses.

Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / IMAGO

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A large Pride Parade is currently taking place not only in Stockholm, but also in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The highlight here is the canal parade, which Mayor Femke Halsema (dressed in red) also takes part in.

Photo: Remko de Waal/EPA

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In Amsterdam, too, the festival had to be canceled for two years in a row due to the corona pandemic.

Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP / IMAGO

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It seems that many participants...

Photo: Peter Dejong/AP

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... and to give viewers some catching up to do.

Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP / IMAGO

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The canal parade does not only take place with classic boats.

Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP / IMAGO

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When it comes to the number of participants, there is currently only talk of »hundreds of thousands«.

Photo: Peter Dejong/AP

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The event in Amsterdam is taking place for the 25th time this year.

Photo: ANP / IMAGO

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In Germany, several Pride demos are also moving through the cities.

One of the biggest takes place during Pride Week in Hamburg.

At the opening, the rainbow flag was hoisted at Hamburg City Hall.

Photo: Georg Wendt / picture alliance / dpa

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The highlight of Pride Week is the Christopher Street Day demo, which runs until the evening.

Also present: Peggy Parnass, Federal Green Party Chairwoman Ricarda Lang, Deputy Mayor Katharina Fegebank, Hamburg Pride Chairwoman Nicole Schaening and Mayor Peter Tschentscher.

Photo: Andre Lenthe / IMAGO

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Not quite so political: the TV starlets Micaela Schäfer (left) and Claudia Obert (middle) as well as Yvonne Woelke, Miss Germany 1999. 82 groups have registered for the demo, more than ever, the organizers reported.

Hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators are expected.

Photo: Andre Lenthe / IMAGO

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Among other things, Blümchen sings at the associated street festival.

Photo: gbrci / Future Image / IMAGO

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Already on Friday, the drag queen Ember Remember staged herself in front of a baroque portal of the electoral palace in Mainz.

Photo: Peter Zschunke / dpa

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There, too, demonstrations are being held for equal rights, acceptance and self-determination for queer people, under the motto »Show your colors now«.

Drag Queen Igitte von Bingen will moderate the event's stage show...

Photo: Peter Zschunke / dpa

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... Nicci Mix, Charmaine Champagne and Kitty Catharsis also perform.

Photo: Peter Zschunke / dpa