CSD Erfurt — Christopher Street Day

«NEVER AGAIN SILENT» — Demonstration and Festival

Christopher Street Day Erfurt sees itself not only as a celebration but also as a political demonstration. The motto «NEVER AGAIN SILENT» refers to the tradition of Christopher Street Day, which commemorates the uprising of the queer community against police brutality in the New York bar Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, worldwide. The demands of the Erfurt organizers are clear: combating transphobia and queerphobia, protecting queer living spaces, refusing any political cooperation with extremist groups, legal equality for rainbow families, support for queer refugees, solidarity against transphobia, racism, ableism, classism, and sexism.

Parade from the Main Station to Anger

The event kicks off with a parade through Erfurt's city center: from the main train station, the demonstration procession moves with rainbow flags, trucks with sound systems, dance groups, and thousands of participants through Bahnhofstraße, along Anger, past Krämerbrücke to Domplatz. The parade is colorful, loud, and political — the musical accompaniment ranges from techno and house to German pop and queer-activist anthems. Registrations for vehicles, walking, and dance groups are accepted in advance at csderfurt.de.

Street Festival on Domplatz

After the parade, Erfurt's Domplatz transforms into a street festival. Against the unique backdrop of Erfurt Cathedral and St. Severus Church — Erfurt's «Three Towers» — a varied program is offered on the main stage: live bands, drag performances, dance shows, queer artists, political speeches, and DJ sets into the evening. Food stalls offer international cuisine, associations and initiatives present their work, and community meeting points facilitate exchange and networking. Domplatz, with its approximately 35,000 m², offers space for tens of thousands of visitors.

Erfurt — State Capital with Queer Tradition

With around 215,000 inhabitants, Erfurt is the state capital of Thuringia. CSD Erfurt is one of the largest queer demonstrations in Central Germany and has gained significant importance in recent years — as a visible sign against the right-wing shift in the region and for the visibility of queer life realities in East Germany. Erfurt's queer scene is manageable but committed: the HAUS DER REGENBOGEN (House of the Rainbow) as a community center, several queer initiatives, and the CSD association form the backbone of activism.