© dpa
The rainbow flag is flying again in front of the Rotes Rathaus. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) hoisted it together with the Queer Berlin Representative Alfonso Pantisano and the Berlin Managing Director of the Lesbian and Gay Association, Alexander Scheld.
The occasion is the start of the so-called Pride Season with its traditional highlight, Christopher Street Day (CSD), on July 27. The Berlin CSD is one of the largest events of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer community in Europe.
Raising the rainbow flag is a good tradition in Berlin, said Wegner. It has become much, much more important these days. "The rainbow flag stands for the rainbow capital Berlin, stands for diversity, for tolerance and for respect," said the CDU politician. Wegner pointed to the increasing number of acts of violence against the gay and lesbian community. "I think we have to do something about this together. "It is not acceptable for people to be attacked just because they love differently to others," he said. "It's not who you love that matters, it's that you love. Because those who love will not be prone to such outbursts of violence and hatred. Maybe that's why Berlin is the city of love." As long as it is about politics, colorful and diversity is always better than brown and simplicity, Wegner said and emphasized that he is really looking forward to Pride Month.