ColognePride, with its numerous events, the street festival and, last but not least, the demo parade on Sunday, is more than just one of the highlights of the year. It is a clear and important sign of diversity, tolerance and variety - and this is needed now more than ever.
More than a million people flocked to the parade in Cologne on Sunday - despite the rain - and were rewarded with rays of sunshine almost right on time for the start. The 90 floats and around 65,000 participants once again included a float from our LGBTIQ+ network di.to. and around 400 committed colleagues. "This demonstration of diversity and tolerance is more important than ever," says di.to. spokesperson Anna Pavlitschek. "ColognePride is a clear political statement in times when queer hostility is on the rise in this country and is also being promoted by some parties."
The demo parade is the colourful and exuberant highlight of ColognePride, which has been drawing attention to the legal rights of the LGBTIQ+ community with a wide variety of events throughout July. At the weekend, a stage programme provided an exuberant atmosphere with the band Tokio Hotel as the top act on Saturday evening.
ColognePride, which we as REWE Group supported as the main sponsor for the second time, is both a party and a rally. The focus is on the legal rights and acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people. Under this year's motto "Many. Together. Strong!", ColognePride drew attention to the discrimination and marginalisation of LGBTIQ+ people. The event is therefore also a sign of solidarity with all people who are committed to an open and tolerant society.
We have been committed to diversity within the company for many years. Our di.to. network celebrated its 11th birthday this year.
EXPRESS.de presented the Express Queer Awards at the opening of the Cologne CSD street festival. On Friday evening, Ines Schurin, Group Director Corporate Communications, and Frank Bartels, Head of Event & Travel Management and co-founder of our LGBTIQ+ network di.to, accepted the award on the main stage at Cologne's Heumarkt. The award is given to people and organisations who stand up for the queer community, who entertain, who always raise their voice for tolerance and acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community or who create a safe place for others.
We have been at the Cologne CSD with our own truck for eight years. Our CEO Lionel Souque emphasises how important diversity is for us as a company: "I am convinced that we can only move forward as a company and as a society if we see diversity as a necessity and a strength: you always need people who are different from you. At REWE Group, we live this every day! For eight years now, we have been demonstrating our position at the Cologne CSD with our own truck and this year with over 400 colleagues who are standing up for acceptance and diversity. For the second time, we are the main sponsor of ColognePride with REWE and PENNY. I am just as proud of this as I am of the special prize from the Express Queer Awards, which we received at the start of the Pride weekend."
In addition to the REWE Group, this year's winners are:
- Person of the Year: Tim Lahr (pastor from Cologne)
- Ally of the Year: Hazel Brugger (podcaster, comedienne, author)
- Drag of the year: The Only Naomy
- Entertainer of the Year: Tahnee (Comedienne)
- Organisation of the year: r(h)einqueer Bonn e. V.
