This year, REWE Group is once again setting an example for diversity and tolerance in various cities on Christopher Street Day. Frank Bartels, co-founder of the company's own LGBTIQ network di.to, explains why he believes this is urgently needed, especially in these times.
Frank Bartels
one: Frank, 17 May is the official International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex and Transphobia, perhaps better known by its English acronym IDAHOBIT. A good time to not only raise the rainbow flags again, but also to talk about the current situation and REWE Group's participation in the CSD parades.
Frank Bartels: REWE Group has been closely associated with Cologne's Christopher Street Day (CSD) and KLUST (Cologne Lesbian and Gay Association) as its organiser for many years. We from the company's own LGBTIQ network di.to, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, are taking part in the demonstration in Cologne with our own truck and many committed employees and friends. We will also be taking part in Leipzig, Frankfurt and Hamburg. We and everyone taking part want to send a clear signal in favour of acceptance and diversity in the face of rising homophobia.
one: How do you assess the current development?
Frank Bartels: Like every year during Pride Month, we can celebrate successes and denounce setbacks. When I look beyond Germany and look around the world, I have the feeling that there is one step forward and at least two steps back. One of the successes in Germany, for example, is the law on self-determination with regard to gender registration (SBGG), which was passed by the German Bundestag just a few weeks ago. Among other things, it is intended to make it easier for transgender, intersex and non-binary people to change their gender entry and first names. According to a recent study, the situation for queer people in Germany has improved significantly. Germany is now in 10th place in a European comparison (previous year: 15th place). Another piece of good news reached us from Greece in February: it is the first predominantly Christian Orthodox country to allow marriage for all.
one: That sounds very hopeful at first...
Frank Bartels: On paper, yes. For example, our government has done a lot to combat hate crime, but at the same time the number of anti-queer offences is on the rise and has even doubled in some federal states.
The situation is dramatic in many African and Arab countries, and the situation is getting worse in some states. In total, homosexuality is still criminalised in 66 countries around the world, and in 12 countries it is even punishable by death.
Frank Bartels: I would no longer call it homophobia, but rather queerophobia. Rejecting a person because of their sexuality is one thing, but using violence is a whole new dimension. (Extreme) right-wing parties have made the LGBTIQ community a target through targeted smear campaigns and are therefore also responsible for the sharp rise in attacks.
This raises the question of what kind of conditions we want in Germany in the future. The mass protests at the beginning of the year showed that many of us are prepared to fight for our democratic values and take to the streets. That was a strong signal from a large part of our population. And I think this signal should continue at this year's CSDs.
That's why we at REWE Group are not only taking to the streets at CSD exclusively for the LGBTIQ community, but especially for the preservation of democracy and diversity in this country. That's why we deliberately chose the motto 'Live diversity. We would be delighted if numerous REWE Group colleagues, friends and families joined our truck.
one: How much effort does it take to take part in Germany's largest CSD?
Frank Bartels: A lot has been learnt from previous years, we work hand in hand with all the trades that support us year after year. My special thanks go to the internal supporters at Lekkerland and the Weinfreunde, who we can always count on. I would also like to thank Elke Wilgmann and Peter Maly from REWE, who are completely sponsoring the T-shirts at the CSDs where di.to. will be represented this year.
Frank Bartels is Head of Event and Travel Management at REWE Group and co-founder of the company's own LTGBIQ network, di.to.
CSD 2024: Where, when and how you can take part
With the overarching motto "Live diversity. Defend democracy", di.to is taking part in a total of four CSD demonstrations this year:
21.07. Cologne:
Anyone who would like to support the di.to network in the foot group at CSD Cologne is welcome to get in touch here.
17.08 Leipzig:
Are you interested in travelling on the truck in Leipzig? Then please contact dito-ost@rewe-group.com.
10.08 Frankfurt:
Are you interested in joining the truck in Frankfurt? Then please contact Stefan.Weber@dertour.com.
03.08 Hamburg:
Are you interested in riding on the truck in Hamburg? Then please contact dito-nord@rewe-group.com.
The cost of taking part in the truck in all four cities is 35 euros and will be donated to local organisations.
CSD Cologne 2023 ©Dustin Preick
We are an LGBTIQ-friendly company
in 2023, REWE Group was recognised as an LGBTIQ-friendly employer for the second time in a row with the "Pride Champion" award .
Also in 2023, the CEO of the REWE Group, Lionel Souque, was recognised by the Prout at Work Foundation as a senior manager who is committed to equal opportunities for LGBTIQ people within our company. Souque, sponsor of the company's own LGBTIQ network di.to., is committed to all aspects of diversity within REWE Group.
ColognePride
The CSD demonstration on 21 July is the highlight and conclusion of the ColognePride event, which lasts several weeks and whose main sponsors include the REWE Group together with REWE and PENNY. In addition to the CSD street festival, ColognePride offers "queer events" with a variety of cultural, socio-political and informative programmes.
Christopher Street Day
Parades by and for the LGBTIQ community take place around the world on Christopher Street Day, or CSD for short, including in Germany. CSD, which is simply called Gay Pride in other countries, originated as an uprising by homosexuals and other sexual minorities against police brutality in a bar on Christopher Street in New York's Greenwich Village on 27 June 1969. 10 years later, in 1979, CSD took place in Germany for the first time: 450 people took to the streets in a cheerful and colourful way for "gay pride" and the legal right to love whoever you want.
Today, almost a million participants in Berlin alone celebrate equal rights and social recognition for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgender people and intersexuals.
Both German and English comments appear here.
Thank you Frank, thank you REWE Group for these clear positions - including political ones - in favour of an open and tolerant society! Not every employer represents these values so convincingly.