Christopher Street Day - the Craziest Summer Party

Ever It all started with a riot against police arbitrariness. A few years later, Christopher Street Day has become the wildest party of the summer. In 1969, policemen from New York checked out a bar in Christopher Street. Most of the guests were homosexuals. The officers wanted to drive these "aliens" away from the bar. Normally, the Gays and Lesbians did not defend themselves. This time, however, they decided to start a fight with the policemen. They threw glass shards and horse dung at their agressors.

This first act of resistance against the oppression of Homosexuals was the beginning of the Gay/Lesbian movement.

At the same time, it was the origin of the CDS, usually celebrated at the end of June in many big cities. Although these pride parades are considered to be political demonstrations, there much more to them. Christopher Street Day celebrates an obvious lust for life and the free handling of one's sexuality. One is easily reminded of the Flower-Power-Movement of 1968. Every year, more than 1 million guests celebrate CDS in Cologne. The date has by now become a carnival substitute in summer. Gays, Lesbians, trans- and heterosexuals celebrate together. They dress up in hot pants and rich costumes with plunging necklines. Oversized high-heeled shoes draw attention not only to themselves, but to the extremely long legs of the wearer as well. Apart from the parade, lots of guests enjoy the dance music, rain bow chains and takeaway food at the festivity.

CDS usually lasts several days. CDS has become an essential date on every cities' calender of events.

Families, as well as elderly couples, meet at the roadside in order to enjoy the freaky parade. Although many people accept homosexuality nowadays, gays and lesbians stilll fight for equality every year on Chrisopher street day - by throwing the wildest party in the world.