Pride ambassadors 2024

Dear ones, even if it sometimes seems strange to celebrate together when it feels like the whole world is on fire, it is so incredibly important that we do not stop creating moments of queer joy that we can experience together, because we are also refuelling ourselves, we see ourselves reflected in the people around us and understand that we really are not alone. And so we are visible; for those who perhaps don’t yet dare to show themselves, who are still afraid, but also for those who wish for a world without us in it.

And especially when the worst things are being said about us again from the outside in order to turn us into enemy stereotypes; when politicians conjure up old fears on the backs of trans people in order to distract voters: When politicians conjure up old fears on the backs of trans people to distract the electorate from the fact that they have nothing to offer apart from conjuring up images of the enemy; when drag queens are suddenly staged as a threat to children; when hate speech appears acceptable in public discourse in Europe too and when a party that is already considered clearly anti-constitutional in many places is achieving record forecasts, it is precisely then that events such as a Pride are so important. After all, it’s never just about dancing, it’s also about meeting each other, it’s also about experiencing queer joy, it’s about inspiration, about encouragement, about exchanging ideas, networking and organising ourselves.

And even if our opinions differ from time to time, our goal is the same. We all need to learn and practise this again: that our fight for a more equal future for all is more important than our differences.

We must stop dividing ourselves and cancelling each other out if we want to achieve anything. Those who want to ban and imprison us are happy when we tear each other apart and march past us in goose-step while we are busy infighting.

A word to those for whom everything is still too political all the time, who aren’t interested in such serious words and who aren’t really interested in much apart from dancing and hooking up:

Be glad that you have all these privileges today. Many others have had to fight bitterly for them. And such privileges must be protected! By opening your eyes and ears and realising what is happening. By voting.

The election in Saxony is just around the corner. This is the next big opportunity to do something without much effort to preserve these privileges. So use your vote too! And no, there is no longer a perfect party for most of us, but again, it’s more important to focus on what we have in common rather than not voting at all.

Rosa von Praunheim once said many years ago: get out of the ‘Klappen’ (German slang for gay cruising spots) and into the streets. Today I want to say: get out of the comfort zone and into the streets!

I’m also talking about myself. We have become too comfortable in our privileges and are now finding it difficult to counter the shift to the right. I am grateful for the many people who are raising awareness on social media and are active there. But you shouldn’t confuse a few slides in Instagram stories with political activism, and that’s what we all need now.

We need to become more organised again, more bulky, more uncomfortable if we want to make a difference. Because those who want to abolish and ban us are not asleep. They know exactly which party they are voting for and don’t constantly cancel each other out.

And also to the non-queer people in this room: we need you now. We need allies who open their mouths in their rooms, where we are not, when someone says something queer-hostile, who speak up when prejudices are spread about us.

On that note, my dear ones:

Let’s celebrate and bathe in all the queer joy that Pridemonth brings, let’s recharge our batteries and then go out stronger and keep fighting for our rights.

Thank you.