LGBTQ RIGHTS/Taiwanese group joins Berlin Pride Parade

Berlin, July 27 (CNA) A group of Taiwanese people took part in Berlin's annual Pride parade on Saturday, joining hundreds of thousands of participants in one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ events.

This year's Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade was held under the motto "No More Silence," calling attention to ongoing discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ communities.

The Taiwanese group marched with rainbow flags bearing the word "Taiwan," drawing enthusiastic support from spectators and showcasing Taiwan's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

"That unity and feeling of being seen really matters," said Lan Yi, a Taiwanese freelancer based in Berlin. She recalled how people cheered loudly when the group shouted "Taiwan".

As a regular participant in CSD, she said she had felt a growing sense of international recognition and solidarity with Taiwan.

Two Taiwanese visitors, Lawrence and Karl, who traveled to Berlin specifically for the event, noted that the parade felt more like a celebration than a protest.

They said that in Berlin, respect for gender diversity has become part of daily life, allowing people to express themselves freely without the need for overt political messaging.

The Taiwanese contingent included members of the Junge Taiwan Initiative and the Walking for Taiwan Association in Europe (WTAE).

Local authorities, including Berlin's city administration, expressed support for the LGBTQ+ communities during CSD by flying rainbow and Pride flags on public buildings.

The Berlin public transit company, BVG, also painted the exit of the Bundestag subway station in rainbow colors to mark the occasion.

A recent proposal to fly the Pride flag over the German parliament building in Berlin, however, was rejected by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, who cited constitutional violations.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed the decision, saying the Bundestag is "not a circus tent." The remarks drew criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and civil society groups.

Despite this, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner reaffirmed the city's commitment to LGBTQ+ rights at the event's opening.