The rainbow flag flies in front of Berlin's Red City Hall.
© dpa
The rainbow flag flies at the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall) during the CSD season. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) hoisted it at his official residence together with representatives of the Berlin Lesbian and Gay Association.
The occasion is the so-called Pride season with its highlight, Christopher Street Day on July 26. Wegner has announced that he will be taking part as in previous years. The Berlin CSD is one of the largest events for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community in Europe.
"I am also the governing mayor of the rainbow capital," said Wegner and assured that Berlin would remain a pioneer for queer life. "The rainbow flag belongs in the center of our city, the rainbow flag belongs in the center of our society." The managing director of the Berlin Lesbian and Gay Association, Florian Winkler-Schwarz, pointed to increasing violence against queer people and demanded: "Berlin must remain colorful." He paid tribute to Wegner's efforts for a Bundesrat initiative for the protection of sexual identity in the Basic Law. The Senate decided to campaign for this at the beginning of July.