10,000 people turn out to Cologne Pride parade

Up to 10,000 people turned out to the Pride parade in Cologne on Sunday despite rain and the pandemic.

"The rain can do as it likes, but it can't get rid of the sun in our hearts," said Bundestag vice president Claudia Roth at the opening of the event in the western German city.

"Even if it's not so sunny, at least you all have shining eyes," said Jens Pielhau, one of the organizers.

People walked through Cologne carrying rainbow flags, wearing masks, dancing, singing and holding signs.

"This symbol is very important to our community," Pielhau said of the rainbow flag. "It shows that despite all the differences, we have a unifying strength."

The attendees were undeterred by the weather or the pandemic safety measures.

"I don't like the weather, but I like the parade. Everyone is just the way they want to be," one participant said.

The route of the parade was altered this year to avoid crowding in some of the city's narrower streets and allow for social distancing.

Under additional health requirements for the event to be held, the participants had to be vaccinated, recovered or tested for the virus, and to wear face masks.

About 100 groups had registered for the demonstration for the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, among others, said Hugo Winkels, spokesman for Cologne Pride.

Several thousand people had gathered on Friday at the opening of the celebrations, known in the local dialect as the CSD-Veedel.

With 10,000 attendees, the parade is much smaller than usual this year because of the pandemic.

According to the organizers, the 2019 Cologne Pride parade attracted 1.2 million people. Last year, Pride had been postponed to the beginning of October and then only took place in a much smaller form: Instead of the parade, there was a bicycle demonstration.

What the Germans refer to as Christopher Street Day (CSD) - internationally known as Pride - is a reminder in many places of events in 1969 in New York when police stormed the Stonewall Inn bar on Christopher Street and triggered a riot by the gay community that lasted several days.

The Cologne parade is considered the largest Pride parade in Germany.