Gütersloh, 08/05/2024

Bertelsmann Float Returns To ‘Christopher Street Day’ In Berlin

Around 140 colleagues from various corporate divisions took part in Berlin’s “Christopher Street Day (CSD)” on a float of the “be.queer” employee network, promoting diversity, tolerance, and the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community.

This year, employees from various corporate divisions of Bertelsmann again took part in Berlin’s “Christopher Street Day (CSD)” on a float under the slogan “Shine Pride”. Together with more than 250,000 people, around 140 colleagues moved through the streets of the capital to demonstrate for diversity, tolerance and the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community. The demonstration is a reminder of the Stonewall unrest in New York in 1969, when the community stood up against repeated police raids and violence as well as discrimination. The “Stonewall Inn” bar on Christopher Street was the name donor, and the unrest is generally considered the cornerstone for the modern Pride movement.

Following the presence at several “CSDs” over the past several years, the “be.queer” employee network decided again to take part in Berlin in 2024. And again, it was enabled by the vast support from the corporate divisions in addition to Arvato Systems CEO Matthias Moeller, the Chair of the Bertelsmann Group Works Council, Günter Göbel, Bertelsmann and RTL Group Disabilities Officers, Gabriele McNab and Regina Escher. Before the start of the Saturday demonstration, BMG participants met at the BMG headquarters in Berlin and were greeted by BMG CFO Mathis Wolter and equipped with BMG Pride T-shirts.

“Every person is welcome”

With a fully loaded double-decker float, which was wrapped in pastel-colored tarpaulins and equipped with digital screens on the sides, the Bertelsmann group of participants set out on their journey across Berlin. On the screens, video messages from colleagues were shown throughout the parade, expressing their own understanding of diversity with self-made posters. Rain showers at the beginning were unable to cloud the good mood, which became even better when the sky finally cleared. It was no surprise that a large crowd of people with many hundreds of demonstrators gathered around the Bertelsmann float over the course of time. From Leipziger Strasse, the demonstration traveled around seven kilometers to the Berlin Victory Column, where concerts and rallies took place after the parade.

Although the demonstration focuses on LGBTIQ+ community rights, the look at social developments, social cohesion, and making discrimination a topic are essential elements of “Christopher Street Day”. Despite these serious topics, the parade through Berlin was characterized by a positive and happy atmosphere. Gabriele McNab emphasized: “I am always overwhelmed by the togetherness and zest for life at ‘be.queer’. Every person is welcome. They do not get asked where they are from, what they do or what their skills may be. I am welcomed and accepted in such a warm-hearted way as a human being that I feel free myself. This helps me with my work as Group Disability Officer and with passing on this feeling.”

Next parades in Katowice and Halle an der Saale

The overall motto of the parade was “Nur gemeinsam stark – Für Demokratie und Vielfalt” (Only Strong Together – For Democracy And Diversity), which set a sign against division and political debates aimed at questioning the basic values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Michael Lauk, Chairman of the “be.queer” network, summed up the day: “Taking part in Berlin’s CSD was once again a great success. I thank all employees who were there. My thanks also goes to everybody who actively support us throughout the year beyond the CSD. You make a difference.”

In addition to “CSD” in Berlin, the network has been present at several other parades this year, including in Cologne, Hanover, Munich and Hamburg. Two more parades are coming up, “CSD” in Katowice on September 7 and “CSD” in Halle an der Saale on September 14.