We are an open group of queer folks in Cologne planning critical Pride events for this fall. We’re non-corporate, anti-capitalist and independent from political parties. We aim for our events to be intersectional1 and anti-racist.
We oppose the capitalist co-option of Pride and understand our own liberation as an ongoing, political struggle. We see ourselves in the tradition of the Stonewall riots – as well as other uprisings – which have been a cornerstone in LGBTQIA+ liberation struggles and were mainly taken out by trans women of Color.
These struggles are far from over. Even though LGBTQIA+ people have – in some aspects – been granted more rights in recent years, the conditions many of us live under have barely changed. For instance, homo- and transphobia are still usually not recognized as a reason to be granted asylum and trans women are still refused access to women’s shelters on a regular basis. Attacks against LGBTQIA+ people are also on the rise. We don’t want to celebrate in apolitical Pride events as long as this reality doesn’t change.
“Radical CSD Köln” (Radical Pride Cologne) emerged from the group “Stonewall Remember & Act” which organized the “Alternativer CSD” in recent years. In 2019, this group was called out by BIPoC folks for not being inclusive enough towards people effected by racism. We take this critique very seriously and try our best to consider that in our way of organizing and the content of events this year.2
Come & join us at our events and hit the streets for the Radical Pride march in 2020!
None are free until all are free!
1 Intersectionality describes “the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.” (Oxford dictionary)
2 An in-depth statement on the critique that was expressed and our response can be found here.